@Dcatnip - There are three problems that spring to my mind
1 - I am not a baby so do not need monitoring
2 - I am not a criminal so do not need monitoring
3 - I quite like my privacy so do not want monitoring
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This is clearly against THS policy.
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Hello @Dcatnip My answer to your ‘what is the problem?’ is:
- What @Colin said.
- @Itchyfeet brings up the primary reason.
- Home/pet owners who want to check on things once in a while do that by contacting me, but it’s more likely that I’ve kept them updated regularly so they mostly don’t feel any need to contact me. However, some do as they also tell me about their travels, or want to often just keep thanking me because they’re so appreciative of what I do without charging them. Some are still in awe over that.
- In my case, of course I would reject any offer to do the sit if you had cameras that I felt would be an invasion of my privacy.
- And lastly, but most importantly, trust me that I do want to hide from a camera if I’m walking within the home to go take a shower.
This community welcomes all who will support the high level of caring that is shown by both homeowners and sitters. We are proud of our efforts to support one another. 
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Ove course nothing invasive. I actually do not have inside cameras at this time.
It looks like Apple might be following our forum … 
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I’m curious how many of you have run into hidden cameras or listening devices. Have any of you purchase detectors for your sits so that you can scan the house?
I think there’s a thread on this already. We have had a couple of sits with indoor devices that were designed to track the animal. We haven’t discovered any hidden cameras, though, and don’t have a scanner.
I looked at a few reviews for the Fing app and other ways to find hidden cameras. This link below said that the app was useless and you would need an actual physical device to detect hidden wifi camera devices.
But as the top comment reveals, the app won’t detect hard-wired spy cameras, only wireless ones. So the cameras that are built into clocks and such, plugged into the mains for example, wont be detectable.
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Hi everyone,
I am new to THS. On my first sit (2 months) the owner disclosed the internal camera and unplugged and covered it up while I was there. She explained that she used it when the house is empty to watch her pets. She also disclosed the external camera which she left on and I have no issues with. However, I’m starting my 2nd sit today and forgot to ask the question doing the walkthrough yesterday. Later I realized they have a pretty “smart home” and cameras are generally included. How do you bring it up now? It feels awkward to bring it up so late since I won’t see them again before they leave. It is a weekend sit. And I’m also scheduled for a 2nd sit with them in June. Of course now I know to ask it before I accept a sit during the initial interview. Also have 3 more sits already confirmed with other HOs this summer. Have any of you had this situation where the sit is confirmed and starting or already started. How do you ask? I also found software to scan for wireless only cameras when I get there. Of course this won’t catch wired cameras and devices. But what if I find them even after they say they are not there? I searched this topic in the forum and I know it is against THS policy however there is no mention of it in the welcome guide that I’ve noticed. This should be a specific checklist question in the listing. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
It should rather be the HOs responsibility to notify you about any cameras beforehand. It’s OK to ask if you could switch them off for the duration of your sit.
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fling now does detect a camera–it’s a “premium” upgrade but you can cancel right after using it (during the free trial period) and pay nothing.
I know you posted this ten days ago, I’m just seeing it now. There’s no need to feel awkward about asking about cameras at any point. Your comfort is important. If you forgot to mention it in your initial interview, ask when you think of if. A condition of the sit is complying with THS’ policy prohibiting indoor cameras.
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We have a Ring doorbell and can look back at history of all activity outside, very useful in London where people are constantly up to mischief at night trying to break into cars. I have been on a Housesit with a Ring doorbell and had no problem with it as I was aware of it. I would not stay in a house with internal cameras active.
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Here’s the link to the policy: Camera and Recording Devices Policy | TrustedHousesitters.com – but for readers’ convenience I’ll spell it out below:
this is probably going to get merged somewhere, so please: follow up with wherever this gets placed!
What we allow
Devices fitted to the exterior of the property or doorbell that monitor security of the outside areas such as the porch, driveway and garden.
- (NOTE: does not mention allowing airtags, implying that they ARE prohibited?!)
What we don’t allow
Any active devices monitoring the interior of property during a sit.
- (NOTE: ONLY mentions “interior of property”, does not cover any device that’s attached to the pet, attached to keys, etc.)
Disclosure
Owners must disclose the presence of any internal and external cameras or recording devices when creating their home listing. Any internal cameras or recording devices must be disabled for the entire duration of the sit
- (NOTE: There’s nothing in there that covers airtags or other such technology, which are devices for which the sole purpose is recording and monitoring activity.)
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This was moved as predicted - but the surprise is WHERE it got moved… so now I must ask, is an airtag considered part of a security system?
Also, based on what Angela wrote on the original post (https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/still-wondering-policy-not-updated-to-modern-tech/16187/4) that doesn’t clarify anything.
Once the dog leaves the house wearing an airtag on the collar, it’s no longer on the interior of the property. …So while I’m not asking that every device be addressed, the airtag does present a unique situation as it is neither exclusively in the interior of the house or exclusively on the outside of the house.
(Look, it was either culinary school or law school, and by Jove, I’m still not convinced I picked the right one.)
Until it’s decided upon, may I suggest you simply ask home owners if they have and use air tags before you accept a sit?
ha ha, if it was only that simple.
I just asked an upcoming HO if they had cameras in the house, they said nope, no cameras! Great! I accepted.
And then they let it slip (?) that they had one of those video treat dispensers.
I assume you can just turn that off though, right?
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THIS IS AN INFORMATION PROBLEM:
I was on a sit last week. HO had a live camera with video feed of the living area. Unplugged it.
I’m on a sit right now. HO had a live camera with video feed of the living area. Unplugged it… I’d been here almost a whole day, but I only just discovered it. SO ANGRY.
How are people unaware that this is against the Terms of Service?
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