Mark5532
Sandy, UT
Level 1
Trying to find out if this listing is legit or not. Says sh...
Trying to find out if this listing is legit or not. Says she is a Superhost. Bust seems too good to be true - incredible ap...
I presume all hosts received an email from Airbnb about security cameras, in which it says, "You’re not allowed to have cameras that monitor indoor spaces." That is completely unfair. The basic Abode security system that I have has a motion sensor with a camera that takes a snapshot if the sensor is triggered when the alarm is on, to get a picture of who or what is moving in the hallway. I disclose this in my listing, and I have a small curtain that guests can pull to cover the camera if they are concerned about privacy. Airbnb is essentially forcing me to get a different security system. How are other hosts dealing with this?
Exactly. I have one inside camera (it is part of the security system to take a pic of whoever in the hallway triggers the motion sensor only when the system is armed). I have a dish towel nailed to the wall next to it, and a sign on the wall telling guests they can cover the camera w that towel for their privacy if they want.
Then rent an entire unit without the host, family and other guests in the house.. Us home share hosts must be protected.
We have outdoor only Amazon blink. We can turn off the entire system or individual cameras. Our policy is to turn off the entire system after guests arrive and we see they were able to find the lockbox and open the door, and put them back on overnight, usually 10pm to 7 am. Unless like the case 2 weeks ago we had 2 guests ask for more toilet paper on their second night there- we left 4 rolls. Putting the outdoor cameras back on revealed what we suspected, several non registered guests and visitors coming and going throughout the week.
If I were in a shared space with strangers, I would appreciate security cameras.
Where the security camera footage goes depends on the security camera. Some cameras send footage to a cloud but unless you are willing to spend extra money on cloud storage it just goes away. Other cameras do not go to a cloud but you have to pay extra for a memory chip but I don't think hosts in general are interested on spending extra money for a camera footage library.
Also I reside in NY where its a one party consent to use cameras. How is Airbnb going to tell NY hosts who has a home share what they cannot legally do? Check y'all state laws. Airbnb cannot override it.
I just wrote to AirBNB advocacy at: getinvolved@airbnb.com
I would encourage EVERYONE to write to them. Here is what I wrote:
What is the use of cameras if you yourself disable them before arrival of guest or let them hide? How will you protect yourself or the house from people like the one you have mentioned. There has to be dignified policy from AirBnB protecting firstly the hosts and then the guests because there wont be a guest unless there is a host. Thanks
There are two uses that I see here... one is for the security of the property when it is vacant and the other is to monitor security while it is rented. Each have their needs and purposes. While mine fall into the first category, hosts could always think through a solution for the second that would be acceptable by all concerned.
I have both a shared house and apartments. Each apartment has one interior camera that points to the entrance door and access hallway. There is another door that separates the hallway from the rest of the apartment. I can put a deadbolt on that door and then there should be no expectation of privacy in the hallway.
I wrote a letter to that email address, thanks for the suggestion. I encourage others to do so as well.
Can I quote you for my press release
Agreed!! Especially if the host resides on the property, discloses, and confine’s security camera location to designated common areas.