They didn’t find a replacement sitter, so the house would have been unsecured for nearly three weeks.
I found out that we were being watched when she commented, (from her holiday,) that we arrived at 6:30, instead of 3:30, and also when she arranged to have a friend go to her house to watch the dogs, before we arrived back to the house, and her friend said that she’s been watching us through the ring camera. Charming!!
All internal cameras must be disconnected. It’s THS policy, and law. External cameras are only there to monitor outside movement, nothing else, and certainly not to monitor HS!
I did one cat sit where the owners insisted that the cameras be left on in the living room because they wanted to see their cat from time to time while they were away. I actually turned the camera off while I was at home and told them I would turn it on when I went out. However, they told me that they wanted it on all the time which I thought was a bit weird. I didn’t like the idea of the camera being on while I sat on the sofa watching TV or eating at the dining table. So basically I was not happy about it but in the end I got used to it, and I mentioned it in the review I wrote about this cat sit. At the time I did not realise it was against THS policy so I informed this host (and one other host) that they should not do it in future.
I understand why THS has the no cameras indoors policy. But personally I don’t care if HOs want to watch my comings and goings. They can discuss that with me directly. What I avoid are HOs who declare that in a listing, because not only is it against THS terms, it makes the presumption that sitters will do whatever HOs declare.
The problem is that if you are willing to agree to something that THS does not allow it makes having any T&Cs for the owner irrelevant as they will always find a sitter who is willing to put up with something not allowed.
However THS never actually stopping owners from doing whatever they want whenever they want is accomplishing that already.
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I’m not worried about that, because it’s not the case that they can always find such folks. I’m actually an exception and I decide case by case what I’ll do or not.
Some sitters do deep cleaning, garden or mow, cook meals and leave gifts, which are all above and beyond. I don’t worry about their doing that, either. I don’t think, oh, then all HOs will expect that. I just don’t do any of those things.
I didn’t realize it was against TC either and now that I do, I address it directly in my application that internal cameras are not allowed
@popeye I hope they learned their lesson not to have internal cameras
one of the hosts who had a camera in their living room still has the “cameras installed” showing on their listing. I told them a while ago that this is not allowed but it looks like they do not want to play by the rules.
I have now reported it to support@trustedhousesitters.com
Kind hosts often ask, can I help you with your bags? I always dissemble… I mean that’s very nice, but there’s no way you’re seeing in the back of our car!! 
@Sunshine_G , that is exactly how I established our “nothing comes in until the HO leaves” policy with my husband. The HO offered to help us move our stuff in from the car and my husband led them out there where they proceeded to move suitcases, shopping bags, coolers, fishing rods, a small folding table, cleaning supplies, etc. etc. etc. in from the car. It was the height of embarrassing and it all went downhill from there.
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My sympathies @mars! It would be excruiciating if that happened to us: at least your tyinhgs were IN cases, coolers, bags etc… often I hunt en route for something I need, or think I might have left behind, and simply hurl things out to be todied up on arrival… AFTER the hosts have been gone for at least ten minutes!
Internal cameras need to be turned off during a sit. But how can we be sure they are turned off???
It just makes me wonder, that if they are so worried about just about every aspect of their cat, why go on a holiday in the first place? They may as well just stay home and look after it themselves. It’s very rude of them to assume they have the right to spy on anyone, which is what they are doing, by forcing you to keep the camera on, all the time. I, for one, would just walk away from a sit that does that. We did when we were being spied on by a door camera. No one has the right to monitor your every move, especially inside a building, and especially in a house environment.
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@Joannb877 Just unplug them. Thats how you know.
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@KenandMary1998 most cameras don’t have that ability that I’ve seen it’s cctv type things built into the ceilings
@Enjaybee Oh dear, embedded in the ceiling? DEFINITELY report them and don’t give up until THS ensures that the homeowners are complying with the “no interior cameras” policy.
Always mention this in your review so future sitters can make informed decisions.
But they aren’t against the T&C.
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True, but if I work out something with hosts, THS isn’t going to get involved. THS doesn’t even get involved in many cases where sitters or hosts ask for intervention.