You’re not doing enough to protect sitters from indoor cameras.
I’m about to start a sit and I just found out we have extra eyes and ears in the house (I already reported.) However, I write this because so many sitters stay quiet once they’ve arrived to their sit and suprise, surprise they’re on very candid camera.
Pet parents should see NO INDOOR CAMERAS at every single step of the booking process, not just once and on a separate page in THS. This places a hugely unfair task on the sitter who then has to remind the home owner about THS rules.
You’re failing sitters on this one THS.
Sitters shouldn’t feel stuck between a rock and a hard place of
I have to tell the home owners and then they are mad at me, cancel me, think bad of me or
I paid, drove, flew, got a sitter etc and did so much to be at this sit that I’m just gonna STFU and take it because I don’t want a bad review or worse lose out.
My wife and I legit had to have a conversation about just not saying anything because we have a sitter arriving today and we arrive at our sit today. The PP wasn’t even aware of the rule.
Let me repeat, the PP wasn’t even aware of the rule. They were very understanding and agreed to have them off but it shouldn’t have gotten to this in the first place.
Horror stories I’ve heard from sitters we’ve hosted:
One lady didn’t realize she was being watched almost until after 2 weeks into her sit (she would walk in underwear and noticed)
Being on camera naked.
Fights breaking out between sitters and home owners who then become irate…
Ths, do better. It’s not a rare occurrence. I guarantee it. @admins
We’re currently on a sit that has indoor cameras. The home owner knows they’re not allowed & says they turned them off. However we have no way to know if that’s true. Have thought about putting tape over them.
I don’t believe someone saying, I didn’t know they weren’t allowed. It’s what they say when they get caught. Either way, how rude and inconsiderate to film someone in your home 24 hours a day. I bet in the States you can file a lawsuit for invasion of privacy.
Unfortunately human nature and cameras are going to result in problems. Agree THS need to make internal cameras a more serious infraction and make it clear on sign up and listing stages.
We had one sit in which there was quite a bit of clutter on the bedside tables, so it took me a few days to notice a camera on the bedside table, pointed right across the bed!
There was no logical security reason to explain why the owners would have a camera in this location in their home.
I covered it with a towel. Not sure if it was on or not. It was not disclosed. Many owners have “home smart hubs” that are basically an iPad propped up in a frame. Sitters should be aware that owners could potentially see and hear sitters thru these devices.
I have a form I ask owners to fill out and one of the items is a clear no cameras allowed indoors and all external cameras must be disclosed. So smooth after that.
I always ask about indoor cameras or any interior audio/video devices and let the homeowners know they must be completely powered off. If they don’t agree to that I pass on the sit.
If I were to arrive and find that hadn’t been done I would cover them, power them off, and let the homeowner know what I’d done and remind them of our conversation.
I unplug any of those small speakers that seem to be in kitchens and bathrooms.
If something is a dealbreaker for me (indoor recording/video, smokers house, no fenced outdoor space for dog, style of home, etc.) I make sure it’s covered in our initial talks and follow up those dealbreakers in writing.
The homeowner saying they didn’t know about the rule–I don’t believe it.
Complaints of indoor cameras are constantly posted here by different members. THS, please make the updates that members are asking for to make it safer for all of us.
I agree, THS should take steps to ensure HOs are aware that internal cameras are not allow and that external cameras must be disclosed in the listing. We are hearing about more and more instances of sitters finding internal cameras. It comes up often on the facebook page and many HOs are completely unaware of the rule. And unfortunately, even some who know about it maintain that it’s their house and they can record and spy on sitters if they want to.
Since cameras are now inexpensive and easy to set up, they are becoming more common. I think THS should insert a checklist that pops up whenever a new listing or new dates are added. They could just have checkboxes for the HO to confirm that there are no indoor cameras (or outside cameras set up to face indoors) that will be functioning during the sit, and to confirm that external cameras have been disclosed. THS could also include a link to the policy along with the checklist. This would ensure that the HOs are aware of the policy.
As a homeowner, I use cameras to check on things when I’m away and my home is unattended —but they’re so routine, I sometimes forget they’re there when a sitter is staying. So as a sitter, I now check for cameras and smart devices at each sit, unplug and cover them (some have battery backups), and restore everything to the original state before leaving. No HO has ever mentioned it, and I’ve always received 5-star reviews.
Trying to fully police cameras probably won’t work. But THS shouldclearly state that cameras aren’t allowed during sits, so sitters can object or cancel without penalty if needed.
I usually cover them with something that would muffle sound, like a heavy pillow covered by a heavy pot. And I make sure I don’t have private conversations anywhere near them. I frequently travel with my partner and we’ve made it a habit to not have private conversations inside the homes of others (sad, but true). At a recent sit I thought there were recording devices in the outlet but after some research it turned out they were just GFCI outlets that were malfunctioning!
Crikey, I must be moving in very different circles then as I’ve yet to encounter a single indoor security camera and I don’t know of any friends, family or casual acquaintances who has one either.
I don’t consider those to be solutions. If I have to worry about my conversations being recorded then I can’t stay at the sit.
Many THS sitters work while traveling. I typically have 6-8 work meetings every week, often discussing confidential information. Even if the info we are discussing is not confidential, the other people in the meeting have not consented to being recorded by a random person. And, if I’m not working, I should be able to have private conversations with family and friends while on a sit.
It’s up to the HO to prepare the home for the sitter. That includes ensuring any indoor cameras are not on.