Indoor Cameras Are No Longer Allowed In AirBnbs
This blog post is a little bit of recent news, a little bit of humor, and a little peace of mind.
First, the news…
Gather round all voyeurs and peeping toms…THE JIG IS UP.
In an update earlier this week, AirBnb announced that as of April 30th, they will no longer allow hosts to use indoor security cameras. Previously, hosts were allowed to install security cameras in “common areas” like hallways, living rooms, and front entryways. However, hosts had to disclose the presence of all security cameras in their listings + make them clearly visible. It also prohibited hosts from using cameras in areas considered “private” like bedrooms and bathrooms.
AirBnb’s new policy also introduced new rules for outdoor security cameras. They will now require hosts to disclose their use and locations before guests book a listing. Hosts can’t use outdoor cams to keep tabs on indoor spaces, nor can they use them in “certain outdoor areas where there’s a great expectation of privacy” (think outdoor shower, sauna or hot tub).
If a guest reports the presence of an indoor camera after April 30th, Airbnb says it will investigate and that it could remove the host’s listing or account as a result.
Next, the humor…
So why is this rule changing NOW, you ask? Well aside from several recent reports of guests finding hidden cameras in their AirBnbs (NOT funny), there is a new SNL sketch in which two women find a hidden camera inside the toilet at an AirBnb (funny…but also kinda NOT funny). And we DEFINITELY would not be writing this blog if we had anything to hide…like an indoor camera. So rest assured, WE DO NOT PUT CAMERAS INSIDE OUR PROPERTIES, which leads us to the final thing….
PEACE OF MIND
We know you primarily stay at AirBnbs when you’re on VACATION. Vacation from your day-to-day stress. Vacation from your exhaustive list of to-do’s. Vacation from your carpools, work commutes, chores, and errands. We also know you aren’t auditioning to be a cast member on The Real World. We also ALSO know that this type of thing isn’t just unlawful and wrong - it’s CREEPY. So rest assured that no one is ever watching you in a Deja Blue vacation home. Unless you book one of our pet-friendly rentals and bring your dog. Dogs really do stare at you shamelessly and for prolonged periods of time….but we love ‘em anyways.
…and actually one more thing. If you’ve ever wanted to tap into your inner Sherlock Holmes, here’s an interesting article we found on how to check your AirBnb for hidden cameras. What a fun mix of private detective work and paranoia, huh?!