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?

It wouldn't bother me at all. I have stayed in an AirBnB that had a camera above the front door and the landlord specifically mentioned it in the property info, and that it was to ensure the correct number of guests. I guess they may have had problems before.

I have a ring doorbell due to miscreant neighbours and living in a dodgy area. I would wonder if the area was safe (I wouldn’t worry about other hidden cameras though).

It would t worry me, it’s only checking who is going in and out

I just looked at the last AirBnB that I'd booked as I'm sure I'd read something on it. The listing does say "security cameras on premises".

I can't say I noticed any when I was there, but I still booked it, knowing there were security cameras.

Personally I take it as a good sign that my car is likely to be safe if there are cameras covering the property.

I think I'd prefer proper outside security cameras than a Ring doorbell though. I have a Ring doorbell and get a notification every time a person is detected outside my property. I wouldn't want to think that my host was getting the same.

"Normal" security cameras can no doubt be set up to do the same, but it just feels a little different when it's not right in your face on the door frame.

Maybe a Ring camera elsewhere on the front of the house?

We usually rent a Mediterranean villa for holidays, there is almost always cctv outside. Has never worried us.

We have ring cameras at home, they can see a surprisingly wide range. If you’re next door, maybe possible to put on your own house to catch the next door driveway too?

I've been in a holiday let with a ring camera- the owner actually said if there's any issues ring the bell and she'll be able to speak to us immediately. Can't say it bothered me at all - they also lived next door - so could literally look out their window and see us in their hottub if they wanted to watch us, Im sure they weren't interested in watching 6 adults a baby and a dog struggle to leave the house 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't be happy with it at all, especially as they aren't just filming who goes in and out, they're picking up audio aren't they?

@Appleblossompetal

As opposed to choosing?????

you think it would be better to leave it sitting permanently empty & or selling it for less than land value so someone can afford to bulldoze the land & start again.

The OP is renting it out to eventually get enough money to turn it back into 2 flats.

she's already said it didn't sell as it is due to layout.

what would you have done??

@ginghamstarfish

ok, so what would YOU have done in her position then?

'no other fucking option' landlord. Is quite the mouthful.

I'm really sorry this happened to you. I don't get how people can be so awful and trash places, it's like they turn feral when on holiday.

I wouldn't have an issue with a Ring doorbell on the property. As long as you mention it in your listing.

I would have an issue with other forms of CCTV (inside and outside in the garden for example) as I would feel a lot more 'watched' then.

I have to say I'm more put off staying in places when the owner is next door or on the same grounds. Not because we smash the place up or have anything to hide but when we've stayed in places like this, the owners have always been a bit too much and questioning our movements and always seem to be there when we are trying to relax. It makes a relaxing holiday feel uncomfortable (not saying you are like this though OP!)

@Appleblossompetal

how is she negatively impacting society??

she's trying to raise enough money to return the unsellable property back to two residential flats.

Can you be clear here about what exactly you think she's doing wrong & what you would have done??

'no other fucking option' landlord. Is quite the mouthful.

I love this! From now on I think we should adopt the term NOFO landlord.

Sadly I'm likely to become one at some stage. I will be very anxious to get rid, but of course then I'll be condemned for making a long term tenant homeless.

@Appleblossompetal what would you suggest that I do with it that would be morally acceptable? I’m trying to do my best to get rid of it. I don’t want it but need to save around £20k in order to convert it back into the original 2 flat layout. Then I can sell.

It wouldn't put me off if the place was ideal in every other way. But for sure I would stick a bit of paper over it while we were staying.

annpys me when people spoil it for everyone. We have a group of 11 friends (all girls if that makes a difference) and a few times a year we rent off air b&b etc for a weekend, we always leave it perfect - but a couple of times we have been declined because they don’t accept big same gender parties (but we always honest that there is 11 girls) drives me mad.

you should get a doorbell, wouldn’t put me off. Just put it on your ad x

It would not put me off, but as with others, I would prefer the building to be rented out year round.

Just say you're a landlord, it's not that hard

Nah, not bothered about cameras, but what I do actively try to avoid are where the owners are living onsite, next door, etc. Now that's a real turn off. I really don't want to be constantly bumping into the owner every time I come and go, or over the garden fence, etc. I actively seek out holiday homes that look to be "professional", such as contactless key collection via lockbox rather than being given a phone number to arrange a time for personal key handover, or even worse "just knock next door for the key when you get here". Aargh!!

On holiday once, the owners were literally sat out in their front garden, seemingly all day and evening - they were basically always there whenever we came or went. Always asking where we were off to, where we'd been, etc as we walked up/down the garden path right next to their front garden!

It wouldn't put me off at all - surely most holiday lets have some sort of cctv/ security camera system if they are empty for a good bit of the year?

The words ‘get a Ring doorbell’ are typed so frequently on Mumsnet that they might as well be made into an auto response. Then when someone asks if they should get one, everyone says ‘ooooh no, sooo intrusive!’ 😂

@LookWhosInsideAgain I would get one and note it on the listing so if people weren’t happy about it they could choose not to book.

I'd get proper CCTV rather than a ring, ring might be more off putting as it's instant access and picks up voice as well.

I'd get CCTV that shows you the path to the door and door, but not the inside when it opens.

And I understand why you say you are an accidental landlord, you don't want people to think you sought out and created your situation because landlords are treated like shit.

That’s a good idea, thanks @slithytoveisascientist

The reason I wrote “accidental landlord” as opposed to landlord is simply because it’s not like it’s going to be a long term thing. It’s just a small investment I’m considering making on this albatross that I’ve inherited. Trying to just get enough money together to get it separated into the flats again rather than sell it for far less than it’s worth only for it to inevitably be flattened and made into some monstrosity that I’d be next door to for however long it as being knocked down and rebuilt.

@Nicecow

its 'not that hard' to ignore the word 'accidental'. Why don't you just do that?

As has already been explained, people say 'accidental' because there's not another 'understood' term to let people know that the person didn't set out to be a landlord so may not have the knowledge/experience expected if those who are doing it as a business. Especially understandable when it's a holiday let.

in THIS case, the OP didn't even have another option, she inherited it and it wasn't selling. Yes, probably would have sold for a tenner, but who is going to do that????

I don't think this would bother me if it was made clear that it was directed at the drive/door only, and if you maybe explained the reasoning behind it. I can see other arguments against it though. Can you put one that doesn't pick up audio, would that be a compromise?!