It was meant to be the start of a family getaway, but it was quickly flooded with concern after they made a horror discovery in the Airbnb where their three young children were staying – ‘It really spooked us’
Checking into an Airbnb to kick-start a holiday is usually filled with excitement, but for one family, their stay was swiftly met with dread.
Content creators Kriss and Kate Hardman booked a gorgeous four-bedroom home on Airbnb for their trip to Australia, Perth, with their three children. But they quickly discovered a camera that appeared to be switched on inside the property.
In a shocking TikTok video, Kriss wrote the caption: “When you book a ‘private’ Airbnb in Perth… and find out maybe it’s not that private…” He then went on to explain: “So we got to our Airbnb last night. It’s a nice place, but there’s one thing I’m not sure about, maybe you can help me out.”
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Kriss walked through the property in the video before panning the camera around to show a video camera placed on a white shelf that appeared to be switched on. He then asked: “Is that allowed in Airbnb’s? Is that standard practice, because I don’t reckon it should be allowed.”
While Kriss was filming, one of his children could be heard playing in the background, and concerned viewers flocked to the comments to share their thoughts. One wrote: “No !!! Disconnect it”, as a second added: “They have to tell you by law”.
A third said: “No way. I wouldn’t be OK with that”, and a fourth noted: “Turn it off or turn it around. It’s not allowed especially if they haven’t told you.”
“Cameras shouldn’t be allowed. You’ve paid for the place. Ridiculous,” another penned.
Later that night, the couple shared an update in another TikTok video and said they “decided to leave the accommodation”. Kriss shared: “It really spooked us and the safety of the family, three little kids is what meant the most.”
His partner Kate went on to explain: “Airbnb fully supported this, they said that we could move and that they would find accommodation equivalent to where we were staying, which was a four-bedroom, placed central to Perth CB.”
The couple explained that the booking company had also promised to pay for a night’s stay in a hotel, while an alternative Airbnb was found for the family, at no additional cost. However, things took a turn when it was found that an alternative Airbnb would cost thousands more for the family.
“Once they found that out, they went quiet,” Kriss claimed. The family were left unsure of where they would be staying for the duration of their trip, as Kate said, “We are yet to find out”.
“They backtracked and Kriss has been dealing with them all day, customer service has not been the best and they’ve gone very quiet,” she added. The couple then asked for help from TikTok users as they said, “They’ve gone quiet, so we need you to be loud.”
Thankfully, by the next day, Airbnb had covered their costs, and they were able to find alternative accommodation with no extra fee. While they were relieved to have it figured out, Kriss said in a video update: “They’ve jumped on board but it’s such a shame that it took the power of social media to reach Airbnb for them to do what is the right thing.
“We’re lucky that we’ve got some followers who are really happy to help us out, but someone who maybe doesn’t have that following, I dread to think the situation they could’ve still been left in now.”
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On the Airbnb website, it states: “We do not allow hosts to have security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces in homes, even if these devices are turned off. Hidden cameras have always been prohibited and will continue to be prohibited. Hosts are allowed to have exterior security cameras, noise decibel monitors and smart devices in homes as long as they comply with the below guidelines and applicable laws.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Airbnb Australia and New Zealand told the Mirror: “Airbnb does not allow hosts to have security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces in homes, even if these devices are turned off.
“Airbnb has provided the guest with a full refund and assisted them in rebooking alternate accommodation.
“In the rare event a host or guest feels unsafe or experiences a safety-related issue during an active reservation, we have a safety team that can be reached via our 24 Hour Safety Line, which is available to all users.”