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AIBU?

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Original poster

Camera in Airbnb

141 replies

Blueberrycake12 · 20/08/2025 16:51

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?

OP posts:
ClareBlue · 20/08/2025 21:54

swingingbytheseat · 20/08/2025 21:35

You should have booked your own place if you didn’t want to share the kitchen. She can do what she likes, it’s her house. YABVU

You are wrong. The host 'can not do what they like'. The OP is there under a commercial agreement. This view is exactly the issue with Airbnb. The OP was not a guest as in a friend invited into the house. If the kitchen was offered during the stay it becomes part of the agreement. If you were at a hotel and you asked to use an empty function room as a favour to do a zoom call and they said yes and you got electrocuted when plugging in your laptop do you think it makes a difference you only booked a room and you were using the function room as a favour. That's an extreme example but the fact is, if you offer additional facilities not in your original contract they have to come with the same safeguards as the original contract. In this case you can not have inside cameras, so all rooms offered at any time have to meet that safeguard.

ScaryM0nster · 20/08/2025 21:54

We’ve got various cameras around our house inside and out. Most are live view only rather than recording.

They’re not hidden, but equally I don’t point them out to every visitor either. Neither do they have bright flashing neon signs pointing them out.

Absolutely no ok to have them inside spaces that you’re renting out to someone. But in your own space that you may choose to let guest use, fine. There’s no expectation of privacy at that point.

ChrisMartinsKisskam · 20/08/2025 21:56

Purpleturtle45 · 20/08/2025 21:46

It should be declared in the listing if there is a camera.

But the op went into the host private part of the house
if the host want to sit there snorting coke while playing cards she can - because it’s her own private part of the house

the op ( as far as I can tell ) rented a room - not a room with kitchen facilites

Idontjetwashthefucker · 20/08/2025 21:58

ChrisMartinsKisskam · 20/08/2025 21:56

But the op went into the host private part of the house
if the host want to sit there snorting coke while playing cards she can - because it’s her own private part of the house

the op ( as far as I can tell ) rented a room - not a room with kitchen facilites

Show quote history

But we don't know that use of the kitchen wasnt included

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 20/08/2025 22:01

Idontjetwashthefucker · 20/08/2025 21:58

But we don't know that use of the kitchen wasnt included

Show quote history

Not one thing OP has said makes me think it was included.

And when asked directly, OP has not answered.

ChrisMartinsKisskam · 20/08/2025 22:01

Idontjetwashthefucker · 20/08/2025 21:52

The host let the OP use the kitchen, if use of the kitchen wasnt included then surely she wouldn't have done this?

She probably thought she was being nice even though it wasn’t included

no good deed goes unpunished

ChrisMartinsKisskam · 20/08/2025 22:02

Idontjetwashthefucker · 20/08/2025 21:58

But we don't know that use of the kitchen wasnt included

Show quote history

Well seeing that the OP hasn’t came back and hasn’t said that it was included I’m going to assume that it wasn’t and OP should be on the entitled people thread 😂

Glitchymn1 · 20/08/2025 22:03

It sounds like you asked how you are meant to cook food and she let you use the kitchen in her HOME. Not part of the listing, that’s how it reads as you have been very evasive about this part.
Anyone reading the review will think what kitchen? The host did you a kindness if this is the case.

The host will just edit their listing to explain what occurred.

Now you intend to leave a shitty review- CF! 😆

Bournetilly · 20/08/2025 22:03

I wouldn’t like being filmed or want to be filmed but the camera was in the kitchen which was part own home, it wasn’t in the air b&b area.

Simonjt · 21/08/2025 05:48

SunnyD4ys · 20/08/2025 21:51

Well no because cameras inside arent allowed under Airbnb rules

Show quote history

The kitchen isn’t part of the airbnb, thats part of the private home, in OPs case cameras were not allowed in the bedroom or bathroom that she rented.

It also takes a certain kind of person who thinks its appropriate to walk around in someones home before having a shower and getting dressed.

Gofaster2023 · 21/08/2025 06:10

If the kitchen wasn't part of the contract and they were just offering it as extra, I would be irritated but it was perhaps an oversight on their part. I have a camera for my dog and it was a day or so after installing it that I realised my poor dog walker must hear it swivelling around and thought to warn her it was there! It was live action only and didnt record anything. She was totally fine about it but then she's just in and out and fully dressed. I offer her full access to my home to make a cup of tea or snacks or use the bathroom and we ended up chatting over it one day when I logged on and started talking to my dog, and she came out of the bathroom hearing my voice! She thought it was funny, because I was saying "you're such a good girl! Yes you are! Are you going to sleep good girl?" I was more embarrassed than she was!

Gofaster2023 · 21/08/2025 06:13

I had to get rid of the camera in the end because the cat thought it was a cat toy and kept attacking it every time it swivelled and made a noise...

Butchyrestingface · 21/08/2025 06:26

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.

So you knew the set up before booking was that it would be a shared kitchen? I would say don't book an AirBnB that doesn't have a private kitchen again if it bothers you.

As for the camera, I can see why someone might want a camera in a shared area of the house for when they're not home. If AirBnB hosts aren't allowed to record guests within the home, then it may have just been there to provide the appearance of an extra measure of security, but not actually recording.

PurpleThistle7 · 21/08/2025 08:21

I think it’s wild you stayed in someone’s house with their random adult children and your kids without your own cooking facilities. The camera wouldn’t bother me at all - it’s a public space for both families and it’s protecting you both. I wouldn’t want to be filmed in my bedroom or bathroom, but most hotels film in all public spaces - hallways and lifts and restaurants - so I guess I’d think of it like that.

I also wouldn’t be wandering around someone else’s house with strangers in any clothes that aren’t suitable.

Icanttakethisanymore · 21/08/2025 09:09

We have Airbnbs (but not ones we live in) and cameras are obviously a big no-no. Given it’s a shared home I think it’s a bit different but I agree she should have mentioned it.

BauhausOfEliott · 21/08/2025 09:47

Camera in a self-contained holiday let = not OK.

Camera in a kitchen in someone’s own family home, that you just happen to have access to and is not your private space = perfectly fine. It’s really no different from having a camera in a hotel or hostel corridor.

If you don’t want to be seen in pyjamas, get dressed before you go into communal spaces.

I think that if total privacy is important to you on holiday, don’t rent a room in a stranger’s house. Either stay in a hotel or rent a self-contained room with its own private facilities.

Original poster
Blueberrycake12 · 21/08/2025 12:23

Only place to get water was in kitchen, unless I used downstairs toilets.

OP posts:
Original poster
Blueberrycake12 · 21/08/2025 12:23

This place wasn't cheap

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 21/08/2025 12:34

Was the use of the family kitchen by guests stated in the listing? If it wasn’t, and an exception was made for you that the owner wouldn’t usually make for other guests, it’s most likely that the owner simply forgot that they have cameras in their private spaces - because they aren’t used to having to remember to let anyone know.

PurpleThistle7 · 21/08/2025 12:56

Yeah - would be good to know if the kitchen was your space or theirs. If it's not part of the booking then it's really not yours and you don't get a vote. If it's a shared space thing I still think it's totally appropriate to treat it as such. If it's part of 'your' private space that's totally different and they should tell you. But since you keep ignoring this question I'm guessing it wasn't part of the booking at all.

Airbnbs don't have to include access to water or cooking facilities. If you booked a room, that's... a room. I never do this as it makes me really uncomfortable to be in someone else's space when they're there so perhaps you should look for full rentals instead.

What you paid is irrelevant as that was your choice.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 21/08/2025 13:12

If it's not part of the booking then it's really not yours and you don't get a vote….But since you keep ignoring this question I'm guessing it wasn't part of the booking at all

I’m slightly amused by the fact OP is absolutely ignoring answering this crucial question.

Actually, scrap that. I’m bloody impressed 🤣

Swiftie1878 · 21/08/2025 13:59

Blueberrycake12 · 20/08/2025 16:51

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?

Was use of the kitchen included in the deal/price?
If not, they were being generous allowing you access and it’s none of your business if/why they have cameras in there.
If it WAS a part of the paid arrangement, they should have told you there is a camera in the kitchen and/or it should have been clear in the property description online. If it wasn’t, yes, I’d mention this in the review.

mondaytosunday · 21/08/2025 14:10

My friend has a camera for her dogs. She has a lodger and she knows about it.
I mean what are you going to be doing in the kitchen for you to worry about her seeing? But I think they are supposed to tell you if there are cameras inside a property.

NamelessNancy · 21/08/2025 16:41

I do feel sorry for the airbnb host. They have allowed OP to use their private kitchen (in her nightwear) despite her only paying for a room they rent out without kitchen facilities. She now plans on complaining about their kitchen!

ChrisMartinsKisskam · 21/08/2025 19:37

Blueberrycake12 · 21/08/2025 12:23

Only place to get water was in kitchen, unless I used downstairs toilets.

So what …
you had a fridge in your room
buy a six pack of wallet from Aldi for 1.50 and use that to keep your water in

the reason you had a fridge in your room was because you had no “official “ access to the hosts kitchen

you booked a room without cooking / kitchen facilities
but expected them anyway
you sound like a cheap skate cheeky fucker

I hope if you do leave a review the host can get you banned and removed from the site for leaving a false review and potentially damaging her business

next time as your clearly not suited to hotel / airbb as no cooking facilities ( and you can’t read where available)
book a whole of use apartment