The question about using Security Cameras

[Michael-and-Beth0]

We look at it this way, it's protection for you and your guests. We list our cameras on our page, and in the. "house rules" which our guests agree to before booking. We have one on the porch, and two inside the common area downstairs only. They do not infring on our guests expectations of privacy in the lving area upstairs. One would only be concerened if they're doing something that's questionable, like last night. We had a couple that stayed with us that had two not so savery reveiws. One host said that they stayed up all night making noise and moving around the house. We also heard them moving around the house around midnight, opening doors to areas they should not be in.

So we turned our cameras on. We witnessed the male snooping around downstairs as though he was looking for something. So I got up and went downstairs to get a drink. He was nowhere to be seen. I was downstairs about 10 minutes when the garage door opened. He was in our garage for whatever reason. My wife and I felt uncomfortable and asked them to leave. They left without an issue. This morning we found items missing, and a small drill, part of a combo that was in the garage, laying out in the driveway where their car had been parked. They have since been reported to AirBnB and action taken. So yes, cameras can be very helpful in situations such as this.

I might add, we originally installed the cameras along with our security system in the event of a break in. But now they paly another important role for us. 

[Michael-and-Beth0]

Update: We also found opioid pain medication missing. We're not asking for anyones approval, or disapproval of our use of cameras. It's our home, our choice. Like I said, the cameras are listed on our page, and in the house rules which one has to agree to before booking. We are 3 years into hosting, and stay consistantly booked in the high 90% occupncy range. 

[Gordon0]

@Michael-and-Beth0 I'm not sure of this post's purpose if you didn't expect opinions. Good for you that you're fully booked. Sweet. 

[Michael-and-Beth0]

Just sharing a hosting experience is all. Possibly hearing about other hosts negative experiences. 

[Helen3]

Can I ask why you chose to have a guest stay who had two previous negative reviews @Michael-and-Beth0 ? Did that not raise any red flags for you?

[Michael-and-Beth0]

It did raise a red flag. In fact, we had a bad feeling about it from the beginning. But like I said, we like giving people a chance to redeem themselves. Guess we were wrong. We have instant book active on our account. And as you know, canceling guests can be a pain. You can't do it from your account. Plus, it's a very negative action. You have to call AirBnB to have it done. 

[Helen3]

Personally @Michael-and-Beth0 I would rather cancel a guest who I had concerns about rather than pick up the pieces afterwards.

I have done this a couple of times and each case it was a two minute call to Airbnb, so not too much of a pain.

As you say we each host in our own way, but I would rather do this, rather than having to put in in a claim for damage and/or theft, which feels a lot more negative and time-consuming.

[Charles444]

I will never take in a guest with a negative review. If all hosts give fair reviews ”bad” guests will not fine good places to stay. I gave my first negative  review recently and guest’s next host report the guest smoked weed and stole an item. Whenever I reduce my rental, I only accept guests with positive or great reviews.

[Ben551]

Yeah @Michael-and-Beth0 what @Helen3 is right. It's not as much hassle as you think to call Airbnb and ask for booking to be removed. I've found they are really reasonable about it. I use IB too, so am in a similar situation.

Having something to point at seems to be important though, I.e. bad reviews, missing profile photo, missing last name... etc. Something to make you uneasy about an upcoming guest. So I think you would have been completely justified to have the booking removed in this situation.

[Emilia42]

@Ben, just FYI, guests can still book with a bad review (for some crazy reason!) but you can now set the requirement that guests have profile pictures when using instant booking. Also, a guest's last name will never appear on their profile - only on the reservation itinerary, messaging inbox, or reservations section. Are you really finding reservations coming in where you are not given a last name?

[Ben551]

@Emilia42 Yeah I have that all turned on now as a requirement for IB, but I didn’t at the start of the month (lesson learned). I had a booking that slipped through while my settings weren’t all up to scratch and... it basically didn’t have anything, no full name, no ID, no picture... total ghost. Once I spotted it Airbnb were nice enough to remove it without any fuss at all, but it’s because I had something legitimate to point at. They didn’t meet my “current” requirements by not having all that info. Interestingly, they seemed to only care about my current requirements not the requirements I had in place when the IB booking happened... I was totally up front about only having recently turned on all the extra requirements too.

[Marlea1]

Is it just me or is everyone on airb&b scared to death of support? I get the impression that support has wayyyyyyyyy to much control over hosts and they seem to be very unhelpful in most cases. I have found one support person that did a little bit extra for me but at this point I think it was all smoke and mirrors because now I have not heard anything about the issue I had.  I truly believe that costumers service is more important than the actual service itself! I'm so frustrated dealing with all the drama I'm ready to throw in the towel to be honest smh

[Suzanne302]

@Michael-and-Beth0

Not sure why you're getting pounced by a couple of hosts as you were just sharing an experience.

I personally don't like the idea of cameras in the common areas, but I do have a motion-activated camera in a room clearly marked "PRIVATE - No guest access." This is mentioned in my listing. I keep anything important locked up, but the room does contain electronics and a lot of personal items.

The camera helps give me peace of mind and I have absolute proof if a guest ever breaks that rule.

[Marlea1]

I'm new to hosting on airb&b. I bought my property for the purpose of renting on airb&b. I decided to put security cameras on the outside of both the front door and back door. I looked over the policy agreement and made sure to include in the house rules about the camera at the house. I'm pretty sure I mentioned it at least two times, one in house rules and one other place. I have no cameras inside the house. When putting my property up on the site I let airb&b know in one of there sections,, I'm not sure,  but I do  Specifically remember that airb&b asked and I let them know the house has  Surveillance.  One of my guests didn't follow house rules and one other guest broke 1500 dollars worth of stuff in the house so I'm not exactly sure what guests decide to complain about the cameras but all of a sudden my whole date book is blocked out and a reservation that I was working on has been lost. My property has a 90% occupancy most times with a central location in a Medium size city that keeps me pretty busy. Support sent me a letter saying that my property will be reinstated when I change house rules to include the words "recording devices " and send pictures of each camera and location. I did that and I haven't heard anything from support in 3 days!!! Is there some kinda mandatory Suspension if a guest complain's my rating is not low enough for a suspension so what is going on? How do I know if someone responds to this thread? I posted on another thread this morning and I still haven't heard anything or any suggestions from other hosts. It almost seems like everyone on airb&b is scared to death to have airb&b look closely at them or draw attention to themselves. Support chat is a complete joke and for the life of me I know I have done nothing wrong. I don't understand how I could have missed anything when creating my account! Now I'm being treated like a raving Psycho lunatic peeping tom or something smh. If anyone knows what is going please let me know. If airb&b doesn't want my support or my property then there are other options that I'm sure Don't act all caring with a heart  Emoji ❤ as they take away your income because of a spiteful retaliation of a past guest! They definitely have everyone running around scared to be honest about past guests and can't stand by that!

[Sarah977]

@Marlea1  When a guest complains about security cameras, instead if just looking at your listing to see if you have mentioned them, they susoend your account pending an "investigation." It's ridiculous.

You sound a bit unsure as to whether you did list them, and as your listing is currently suspended, I can't check to see if I see that info.

They will eventually reinstate your listing, but it can take weeks- just keep bugging them about it.

Unfortunately, this is the sort of thing bad guests who got called out for their bad behavior do- they seek revenge. Most if these sorts consider themselves adults, yet act like young teenagers.

And yes, Airbnb customer service is a joke. More like customer diservice, or as one host here calls it, Customer Circus.