Sounds creepy and illegal, but the next time you book a short-term vacation home, the owner might install a camera.
Sometimes they are outside for security purposes, although some minions do use hidden cameras.
Are cameras in vacation rentals legal?
Vacation rental companies like Airbnb and Vrbo do have rules regarding hosts having cameras.
Landlords can install cameras in their rental space as long as they are in common areas such as front or back yards.
However, camera use is strictly prohibited in private areas of the space, such as bedrooms or bathrooms. If landlords have cameras in their rental space, they must clearly state that in the guidelines so potential renters know before booking.
hidden camera (Cyberguy.com)
What steps should I take before booking my rental?
The first thing you should do is read the fine print Every rental you are considering booking. Most rental properties list a lot of information, such as the amenities the property offers and how to move in. If landlords have cameras, they should clearly state that in the guidelines.
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If you don’t see anything about cameras in the guide, you can also contact the host directly before booking to ask if they can use any video or recording equipment while staying at their listing.
If their answers are not straightforward, or if you feel they are being aggressive in any way, feel free to move to another rental.
What should I do after booking a rental?
Once you book your rental and head to the property, you can always check all the common and unusual places to make sure there aren’t any hidden recording devices that you can see.
Be sure to check private rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms. And look carefully for devices such as fire detectors that may be placed facing the bed.
man holding a small camera (Cyberguy.com)
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Be a detective when you sign in
If you want to make sure there aren’t any devices you don’t know about, you can buy a radio frequency (RF) detector. Some of the better quality ones are slightly more expensive.
However, you want to make sure you’re getting a product that will give you accurate results.Here’s one we found on Amazon called Advanced GQ EMF-390,Priced at $119.90 at the time of publication, it has over 2,200 reviews worldwide, 73% of which give it 5 stars.
RF detector (Cyberguy.com)
Click here to see more of my selection of spyware detection devices
Stay Private While on Vacation
My last tip is to use a VPN. I recommend using one on all your devices, especially when traveling and short-term vacation rentals, so your information is encrypted and protected even if the WiFi network you’re on isn’t enabled.
For the best VPN software, see my expert reviews of the best VPNs by searching for “Best VPN’ On CyberGuy.com click on the magnifying glass icon at the top of my website.
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Have you ever had a problem with hidden cameras in your vacation rental? Let us know about your experience.
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