Would a Ring doorbell put you off a holiday let?

[LookWhosInsideAgain]

I became an accidental landlord a couple of years ago and rent out the house on Air BnB and a couple of other sites. The house is 6 bedroom and was originally two flats so I often get bookings from two family groups wanting to holiday together which is obviously great. Unfortunately a few weeks ago a booking that claimed to be a family group, and arrived as what seemed like a fairly normally family group, had actually decided to rent it for the weekend for a party. Luckily I live next door and soon realised as the day wore on that there were around 30 people in the house which I’m neither insured for and not what the group had agreed to.

I asked them to leave and after a bit of rudeness and a bit of help from my neighbours they did but they caused over £2k worth of damage and I had to cancel the following booking too as they’d smashed the oven. I know this is always a hazard with a holiday let but I’d hoped the fact that I make it very clear that I live next door would dissuade this kind of behaviour somewhat.

Anyway, I thought of maybe getting a Ring doorbell or similar, just so I can see who is actually going into the house. I don’t know if this would be something that would put people off though. It would only be pointed at the door itself and the driveway so they’d be no filming when guests are in the garden or house. I’m still not sure whether it seems a bit controlling though. Any thoughts?

Re: the question, it wouldn't put me off so long as I knew about the exact location of all cameras.

Yes it would put me off.

You could remove it when it's occupied and put it back when empty?

I don't like them. I'm finding it hard to articulate exactly why as everything I type sounds like I am being paranoid, but they make me uncomfortable. I also do not like Alexa and definitely lean towards being a bit of a luddite. So yes, it would put me off.

I just couldn't get myself worked up about it, literally just the odd word you may say going into or out of the house. They are pretty standard IMO.

I don't think what has happened to the OP is acceptable and if this can prevent thousands of pounds of damage for owners I can't get worked up (unless I had something to hide)

Yes definitely this!

I'd find it very intrusive for an air bnb host to be able to monitor my comings and goings

I still don’t understand how that’s an “accident”. You inherited a property and have chosen to rent it out to people. It’s such a disingenuous term.

Yes he is, the ring has a motion detector. He is supposed to have narrowed the field of vision to just his property but he obviously hasn't. So he's also recording your comings and goings as well. If he pays the subscription then he gets to keep these recordings. He also can turn the ring on from his phone at any time and watch and hear what's going on.

@romdowa OMG! 😯

I really wasn't aware of all the capabilities of these things, obviously I had some suspicion about the motion detection but it looks like I've been really naive.

She tried to sell it. She couldn't. She needs an income from it in order to find the work to make it saleable.

She had no intention of being a landlord, and would far rather not be, I'm assuming. That's pretty much the definition of accidental landlord. Would you prefer that she left the property to rot? It sounds like the kind of place that requires money simply to maintain it in a safe condition.

Airbnb is the prefect way to create an income for a short term so that she can sell it. Anything else would commit her to being a landlord for much longer. Which presumably would annoy you even more.

If I was paying extortionate Airbnb rates I would not want to be monitored, and wonder what the legalities are of people having cameras on paying customers. And give over using the word 'accidental' in front of the word landlord, it's redundant.

If he's recording your movements and property then it's illegal. Next time he pops out I'd say something in a jokey way. Like oh you always seem to pop out just at the right time , can you see me through that thing 🤣🤣 and then tinkley laugh.

Let it go... This is major overkill. Over-involvement of the property owner is why I dont book with airbnb - too much personal involvement. And too much preciousness about the premises. It is not your home, it is not 'a' home, it is your source of income.

I dont want to get to know you, I dont care; I have booked holiday accommodation and expect you as the service provider to provide me with use of the accommodation (not home) for the week. In return I will pay the money you demand and treat the premises with respect. I want to come and go when I please and not have the landlord involved at all.

As the business owner I expect you to have insurance to protect me as your client - I would expect you as owner also to have insurance to safeguard your income and this would pay out if you suffer damage as you say. These are business costs faced by all service providers. You can bet that the hotel down the road has insurance against customer damage.

So I think that installing a ring doorbell is major overkill. It will not solve the problem- what will you do if you see 10s of people arriving? Step in and call the Police? What will you do if you are away - rush back and shout at them? Far better to have good relations with the neighbours who can call you if there is a problem.

As an aside I have booked a holiday let through Sykes this year - I made the final payment this week. When the payment went through I got details of the door code to pick up the key, I was also reminded of my duty to return the premises to how I find it and the £200 deposit that will be taken if its in a poor state after a week. I do not expect to have to contact the owner of the property at all - it is a relationship based on contract law not personal relationship. If there is a problem during my stay I will contact Sykes, with whom I have the contract, and expect them to sort it out. I have the Sykes number and am confident they will answer the phone if I have a problem as they are based in Chester not California or a callcentre somewhere else.

But why bother saying “accidental”? What difference does it make? Just say you’re a landlord. Pretty much everyone on here who asks for advice about their rental properties says they’re an “accidental landlord”. What does that actually mean? I didn’t set out to profit from other people needing housing but I am because of my particular circumstances?

Im not anti-landlord, as you have assumed. I’m anti people not taking ownership of the ways in which they are impacting society.

Our Airbnb has security cameras in all the common areas and the garden, the gate to the pool is alarmed and rings in the house and garden when opened we’ve never had issues or complaints in fact the opposite we have been complimented on the efforts to make our guests safe and secure with people rebooking so regularly we no longer advertise

It would only bother people who had something to hide 🤷‍♀️

I use AirB&B several times a year - it wouldn't put me off at all.

It's a good idea.

Yes it would. I would cover it up.

Or people who like their privacy and want that to be respected.

And I don't want conversation that I think is private listened in to. Imagine getting home late at night, forgetting about the recording, and as you open the door talking about the sex you are going to have.

But why bother saying “accidental”? What difference does it make

It says "I'm not a professional at this and need some guidance." Someone who becomes a landlord not out of choice probably doesn't have the same kind of business head and general interest and background as someone who made the conscious decision to buy a 'buy to let'..@Appleblossompetal

It's a quick way to put that across, and potentially avoid people saying "why did you go into this without doing your research/if you've no interest in the property/if you don't have any background?"
But instead they get told off by pedants for using a short term that while maybe not 100% accurate, makes it clear that they're out of their depth.

Why would you feel insecure in a holiday let in the first place?

Really?

Yes, I agree with this.