Rentals
Hidden cameras in Airbnb: what’s allowed and how to check your stay
Airbnb does not allow security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces, even when they are switched off. The ban has applied to every listing worldwide since April 30, 2024. Hosts may still use outdoor cameras and doorbell cameras if the listing description discloses them, and disclosed noise monitors are allowed anywhere except bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas.
Vrbo, owned by Expedia Group, has similar rules. That makes any camera you find inside a rental a breach of policy, whatever the host says about it.
Airbnb’s camera policy in plain terms
- Indoor cameras and recording devices: not allowed in any listing, in any room, even if turned off.
- Outdoor cameras: allowed, but the host must disclose their location in the listing description.
- Noise decibel monitors: allowed indoors if disclosed, but never in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas.
Source: Airbnb Help Center, “Restrictions on security cameras and other devices in homes” (article 3061).
Vrbo and other rental platforms
Expedia Group’s surveillance policy, which covers Vrbo, says surveillance devices such as cameras and audio recorders are not allowed inside a vacation rental, and hidden or disguised devices are never allowed. Smart TVs and voice assistant speakers are permitted if the listing discloses them before you book and you can turn them off. Outdoor cameras may only watch access points and must be disclosed.
Source: Expedia Group Marketplace Policies, “Use of surveillance policy”.
Devices you may see that are allowed
Not every gadget in a rental is a problem. A doorbell camera at the entrance and outdoor cameras covering a driveway or gate are allowed when the listing names them. Noise monitors are small white boxes, usually on a shelf or wall in a living area, that measure sound levels to flag parties. Airbnb allows them if they are disclosed and kept out of bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas. If you find a device you can’t identify in a bedroom, the rule is simple: it shouldn’t be there, whatever it turns out to be.
How to check an Airbnb for hidden cameras
Rentals differ from hotels in one useful way: you are usually on the host’s home Wi-Fi, so a network scan sees much more.
- Read the listing before you arrive. Note any disclosed outdoor cameras and smart devices so they don’t surprise you later.
- Scan the Wi-Fi when you connect. Expect the router, a TV and maybe a speaker. Anything that offers a video stream and isn’t in the listing deserves a closer look.
- Check outdoor camera angles. A disclosed doorbell camera is fine. One that sees through a bedroom window is not.
- Sweep the bedrooms and bathrooms in the dark with a flashlight for lens glints, then with your camera for infrared dots.
- Look at smart speakers and displays. Some have cameras. If one isn’t disclosed, unplug it for your stay.
What to do if you find a camera in your rental
Leave it where it is and photograph it, including what it can see. If you feel unsafe, leave first and deal with the booking later. Report the camera to Airbnb or Vrbo through the app so the case is on record, and call the local police if it was in a bedroom or bathroom. Keep your photos and notes together with the time you found it.
Questions
Are outdoor cameras allowed at an Airbnb?
Yes, if the listing description discloses them and their location. They should cover outdoor areas such as entrances and driveways and must not see into the home.
Should I check an Airbnb if the listing says there are no cameras?
Yes. A host willing to break the indoor camera ban is unlikely to disclose it. The check takes 20 minutes and most of it happens while you unpack.
