Camera in Airbnb

The owner should have told the customer. The OP can leave a comment in the review. I'd raise it with Airbnb and let them sort out whether the rules on cameras applied in this scenario. The owner probably just needs to be clearer.

You are allowed external cameras as long as you comply with the rule and declare them in your listing. Where are you seeing that you can't have external cameras?

www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/3061

Poor woman. No good deed goes unpunished does it?

If kitchen use was part of the contract then you have a point. If it wasn't, you'll probably end up having her Airbnb delisted for the camera in her private kitchen.

You’re right @ClareBlue they’re making a contract as soon as money changes hands. In fact, my comment above was incorrect; you’re simply not allowed to have a camera at all, internally or externally, even switched off.

Cameras reasonable if you are told, preferably before booking. Though the people who are using Air BnB for part of the property are denying someone such as a lodger a full time home.

As far as I know, you should have been told about the cameras, from a legal standpoint.

All of this. If the kitchen wasn’t part of what you’ve booked and paid for, and the host has very kindly let you use her kitchen, then it’s really bad of you to then add that to your review. She was being kind and letting you use her personal space that you hadn’t booked, and you then complain about that.

I initially thought they should have declared cameras, but listening to other arguments I have changed my mind.

OP rented one room and a bathroom (or use of one bathroom). The homeowner then very kindly said she could access a room that is not included in the listing, is a private room for the use of her family only, and isn’t paid for. OP then used this private, not on the listing, unpaid for room. OP, you cannot complain. You have not paid for use of the kitchen. What the homeowner does with her own private rooms that she has not agreed to rent out is her own business.

Plus, she put a kettle and fridge in the rented room. That was adequate for two days. And if it wasn’t, I’m sure there would be other (more expensive) rooms with the full use of a kitchen.

YABVU.

As soon as you grant access to any area it is part of your contract whether it's done through 'kindness' or not. That's the problem with amateurs running a business, which Airbnb lets are. They think it's based on what they think is fair and right in their 'private residence', but it isn't. What happens if the guest set fire to the house but the insurance says no guest will be cooking in the house. I'm sure they will pay up because you were being kind to let them cook. It's why we don't let our young visitors pet our goats. We could out of 'kindness', they love the kid goats, but a protective mum goat might cause serious injury. They have to look at them in the field.

Airbnb have rules about use use of cameras: not allowed in ‘living areas’ which I would take to include the kitchen. If she unifficially but regularly lets guests use this part of her home I don’t think the camera should be there, but it sounds like rather a grey area if she doesn’t list the kitchen as part of the booking.
You could try phoning Air & see what they think; she shouldn’t be on the platform if she’s breaking this rule which they’re quite strict about.
www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/3061

Quoting myself as I've checked the rules, external cameras have to be disclosed, internal cameras are against the rules so it's a factual matter of whether the kitchen is part of the Airbnb

If yes, clear rule violation, if no it would have maybe been polite to mention it but it may not have occured to them if they've had them for ages

Can you clarify if the kitchen was part of the Air BnB listing or not? @Blueberrycake12

If it was, then no, you're not being unreasonable, but if the host was just being kind and offering it to you as an extra, then she doesn't need to mention a camera if she doesn't want to.

One question though - was it definitely on, did you check? It is possible that it was turned off, and it wouldn't need to be declared if so.

Only if the commercial arrangement includes use of the kitchen!

If the Air BnB listing only includes a bedroom and bathroom, they don't need to declare a thing.

Not by anyone with a shred of decency they aren't.

You should have booked somewhere with cooking facilities.

Yes, quite, so why were you running round someone's home in them?

Not on their private property, unless OP is paying for use of the kitchen.

They should declare it, they're taking her money to stay, it's a commercial arrangement.

Room only means you are renting the room

If they have offered the kitchen extra (kindly) and that's not been paid for then to write that on a review is shitty behaviour

That's a moral thing though - legally they can have a camera in their own kitchen and don't need to tell you (assuming you're not paying for use of the kitchen, which you still haven't clarified).

Lots of people have cameras in their homes for all kinds of reasons.

I think that they would need to have a sign somewhere saying you are on cctv.

PJs are worn on the school run....