Is It Actually Legal for Your Airbnb Host to Spy On You?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
When you scour listings for dream vacation rentals, there are certain features you look for: a pool maybe, a good location, perhaps even a fire pit. And you obviously keep an eye out for warning signs, like not enough photos. But you might be overlooking a feature that could give you cause for pause: on-site cameras.
Doorbell cameras are quickly becoming a standard home security feature for homeowners and apartment dwellers alike—and that goes for Airbnb hosts, too. (They may even keep your Airbnb from getting broken into.) While you might appreciate cameras set up in your own home for safety, it might not feel that great to have the cameras turned on you when you're kicking back on vacation. So what are the rules about cameras in vacation rentals? Well, it's complicated.
"As a general principle, the laws regarding the use of security cameras can vary widely depending on the city you are visiting," says Steve Turk, co-founder of Miami-based vacation rental company Tangy Management. "Typically, it is acceptable for homeowners to have security cameras on the exterior of their properties."That said, most rental companies require that those outdoor cameras be disclosed in the property's listing to alert potential renters.
As they would in your own home, these external cameras can help protect against burglary or property damage (or at least help identify any responsible parties). But there are bonus security benefits specifically for rental home hosts—they might be monitoring entrances and exits for good reason. "External cameras help hosts to control the real number of guests arriving at the property as compared with the number of guests stated in the booking," says Florian Hoven, co-founder of home sharing company KeyNest and an ex-Airbnb Host. "I've also seen these cameras helping to alert the host in case the guest uses the property for undisclosed business services of any kind."
Indoor cameras, on the other hand, are often much more restricted, not only by local legislation, which varies per destination, but by rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO. Airbnb does permit indoor cameras with stipulations. First, the camera must not be located in "private spaces" like a bedroom or bathroom. Second, the camera must be clearly visible, not hidden. And third, the camera must be disclosed on the listing. VRBO, on the other hand, does not permit indoor cameras at all, with the exception of smart devices that are disclosed to the renter and can be deactivated by the renter. Those smart devices must not be able to be activated remotely.
Generally speaking, however, indoor cameras aren't that common in vacation rentals. "Any indoor cameras, in any room, result in much lower booking rates and a level of distrust from the guest side," says Hoven. As such, most hosts choose not to install indoor cameras.
Here's what you can do to keep yourself safe from unwanted exposure, regardless of whether or not the property owner chooses to use these devices. No matter what the listing says about the cameras on property, it's always a good idea to do a sweep for cameras—both hidden and otherwise—as soon as you check in. One way to do that is to turn off all the lights and see if you spot the tiny red or green lights that many cameras contain. Another hack is to turn your phone's front-facing camera to any devices that could conceal hidden cameras, as the lights are easier to see in the phone.
If you do find a camera, "first, document the situation by taking photographs or video of the camera, noting its location and any other pertinent details. Then, contact the customer service team immediately to report the issue. They take these reports extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring their guests' privacy," says Turk.
If a guest is worried that their privacy has been compromised—say, they only discovered the cameras after living in the space for a few days rather than on check-in—Turk suggests filing a report with local law enforcement.
And, as always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Before booking a stay, be sure to read the full property listing carefully to find out if there are cameras, then discuss any concerns with your host.
You Might Also Like
