Camera in Airbnb

[Blueberrycake12]

So we are just back from a 2 night stay in a gorgeous airbnb. We stayed in a house with a family and had a family room with a fridge and kettle but no cooking facilities. It felt a little awkward everytime we used the kitchen as we had to knock on the kitchen door to use it. I felt like a burden. Anyhow, on the second day, the owner went away and said we can use the kitchen but her kids will be around. Fine. Last night I noticed a camera in the kitchen and it made me feel so uneasy. I feel like why bother putting your place on airbnb if you're unwilling to trust your guests? Left such a bad taste on my mouth. Could have stayed another night but decided not to. The host was very nice.

Need to write a review now. Do I bother putting that in?

Am I being unreasonable here?

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

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.

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.

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.

I think it's best if I put the camera bit in the review. Thanks everyone for your input.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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

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.

AirBnb aren't allowed internal cameras. I only know this (and subsequently checked) after chatting with a friend who is also a host of his own property, after coming back from somewhere.

I too stayed in a lovely place but only realised it was full of cameras once I was there. Made me really uncomfortable. They covered all living areas and hallways from various angles. Definitely wasn't in the description. I wondered if this was the new norm. Turns out it isn't.

I didn't leave a bad review, as there were no other places in that area, and I'm hesitant to report, as I may one day need to stay again.

I would hate hate hate this. Can’t believe some people don’t mind. It feels very wrong to be be clear about it.

imagine if they said you could use the lounge too and you found a camera in there 😮😮😮

was it definitely recording, OP?

I expect they simply forgot, OP. If they don’t usually allow their AirB&B guests to use their private kitchen but made a spontaneous exception for you, it won’t be at the forefront of their minds to remember there’s a camera in there and tell you about it. I have a garden camera which I usually only remember is there when somebody visiting spots it and asks about it.

Maybe pay for a whole flat/house next time instead of economising and then complaining.

Yes you’re right, I mis-read the link.

how does that guarantee the hosts won’t have put cameras in?

I.wouldn't like it

But they didn’t have cameras in the part that OP rented. They had cameras in their own private property that they have not put on Airbnb.

OP said ’It felt a little awkward everytime we used the kitchen as we had to knock on the kitchen door to use it’ but this was not the agreement. She rented something, then expected use of another room too.