Hidden cameras in short-term rentals: What hosts should know

Key Takeaways

Security experts say guests can use a phone flashlight and simple visual checks to spot some hidden cameras
Airbnb prohibits cameras that monitor any indoor portion of a home, even if the device is turned off
Exterior cameras and doorbells remain allowed on Airbnb but must be disclosed and cannot monitor private areas

Guests are getting better at checking vacation rentals for hidden cameras, and short-term rental hosts may want to pay attention.

Security experts say travelers don’t necessarily need expensive equipment to give a rental a quick privacy check.

A smartphone, a flashlight and a few minutes looking closely at plugged-in devices can uncover some of the more obvious surveillance equipment.

Joe LaSorsa, founder of security consultancy LaSorsa and Associates, demonstrated several of those easy methods.

His first advice was surprisingly simple. Look closely at items with a constant power source and a clear view of areas where someone would expect privacy, LaSorsa said, according to The Washington Post.

That can include alarm clocks, smoke detectors, USB chargers, speakers, air fresheners, and other electronics near bedrooms or bathrooms.

A phone flashlight can also expose the reflection from a tiny camera lens when aimed at a suspicious opening.

Guests can also scan the property’s Wi-Fi network for unfamiliar connected devices, although security experts caution that the method isn’t foolproof. A camera may not be connected to the guest network, and a device name alone doesn’t prove anything is recording.

Dedicated radio-frequency and thermal detectors can go further, but those tools aren’t perfect either.

Consumer Reports tested several travel-security products and found clear differences in how useful they actually were.

For STR hosts, the bigger takeaway isn’t that every guest is about to start sweeping the walls. It’s that travelers have more information and more tools to question anything that looks like a camera.

Airbnb draws a clear line on cameras inside a rental

Airbnb’s current policy doesn’t leave much gray area inside the home.

Hosts are not allowed to have security cameras or other recording devices monitoring any part of a home’s interior. That includes hallways, living rooms, bedrooms and other shared indoor spaces, even if the camera is turned off or disconnected.

Hidden cameras are prohibited entirely.

Exterior cameras are still permitted and remain useful for hosts trying to protect a property, confirm arrivals or discourage unauthorized parties. Video doorbells are allowed as well.

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But hosts have to disclose the location of exterior cameras in the listing. They also can’t direct them at areas where guests expect more privacy, such as an enclosed outdoor shower or saunas. An exterior camera positioned in a way that monitors the inside of the home would also run into Airbnb’s ban on indoor monitoring.

The booking platform treats noise monitors differently.

Hosts are permitted to use devices that measure sound levels inside a property as long as they don’t record audio, are disclosed to guests and aren’t placed in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas.

Vrbo takes a similar approach.

The platform bans cameras and audio recording devices inside vacation rentals and also prohibits outdoor cameras from being positioned to capture interior spaces through windows, according to its Surveillance Policy.

Exterior cameras are allowed around property access points, but hosts must clearly disclose both the location and coverage area in the listing. If a camera can see a pool or hot tub, Vrbo requires an additional on-property disclosure.

The rules make a periodic camera check worthwhile for owners who use property managers, cleaners, maintenance teams or smart-home installers. Hosts should know exactly which devices are on the property, where they’re pointed and whether each one is accurately disclosed in the listing.

That is especially important when an exterior camera is moved after installation or landscaping changes its field of view. A doorbell or driveway camera that was originally positioned correctly can create a different privacy issue if its angle changes.

Guests who believe a property violates Airbnb’s privacy rules can report the issue to the company. Airbnb says its response to a safety incident can include cancelling a reservation, helping a guest find another place to stay and taking action against an account depending on what happened.

The growing attention around hidden-camera detection doesn’t have to put responsible hosts on the defensive.

Exterior security cameras remain a useful part of many short-term rental operations. The important part is knowing where booking platforms, such as Airbnb, draw the line and making sure guests aren’t surprised by what they see when they arrive.