Woman Finds Hidden Cameras in £1,500 Airbnb, Fears Being Filmed Naked

A family on vacation in Versailles discovered hidden cameras in their Airbnb rental, raising concerns about their privacy. The guests, who paid £1,500 for a three-night stay in late August, noticed multiple cameras inside the property, including one on the upstairs landing.

During their stay, the family, including three young children, used the landing area to move between bedrooms and the bathroom, sometimes partially or fully undressed, assuming the cameras were not active. However, on their final night, they observed one of the indoor cameras powered on and operating in the dark, leading them to fear they had been filmed.

Upon returning to the UK, the guests reported their concerns to Airbnb and took photos of the cameras as evidence. They learned that indoor cameras have been banned by the platform since 2024, with hidden cameras never having been permitted.

Airbnb investigated the claim and stated that the host had confirmed the cameras were turned off and no footage was taken or stored. The company initially offered a 50% refund as compensation. However, when the guests informed Airbnb that they had seen at least one camera visibly operational, the platform could not rule out the possibility of footage being captured and closed the case.

Following an intervention, Airbnb reopened the complaint. Recognizing the host's breach of the platform's terms, Airbnb provided a full refund of the £1,500 cost and removed the listing from its site. A spokesperson for Airbnb stated that their initial handling of the report fell short of their standards and that indoor cameras are banned regardless of their location or purpose.

The company also indicated that the case would be reviewed by a quality team to identify areas for improvement and further training for staff. Airbnb advised guests concerned about safety to report issues to their 24-hour safety line.

Despite receiving a full refund, the guests retain concerns about potential footage. The advice given was to report the incident to the police in Versailles, who could potentially seize the cameras and investigate for any captured footage. The guests are reportedly considering this option for their peace of mind.

In a separate issue, a reader experienced significant delays and a terminated journey on an Avanti West Coast train. The passenger, who booked a £179.90 return ticket with a senior railcard, faced a 28-minute delay on the outward journey and a three-hour delay on the return when the train terminated early. Their attempt to claim compensation via post was initially unrecorded, with the rail firm stating online claims were prioritized. After repeated contact and submissions of ticket copies, the claim was eventually accepted, and compensation was issued. Avanti West Coast stated that 1% of claims are made by post and typically processed within four weeks, while online claims are generally faster.