All Forum Posts by: Shane H.

 This camera was not disclosed from how I read the comment. They came in, found them, and took pictures, presumably with their phone. Does the listing say, “if I catch you sleeping anywhere besides the bed I’ll snap pictures?”

The guest has no idea that those people are not allowed to invite them. This just seems like a totally inappropriate way to handle it to me whether a violation of the law or not. I’m still not sure it isn’t. Generally you can’t stop someone from taking your picture on the street because it’s a public place. I don’t know that the same can be said inside of a house, even if you are unknowingly trespassing. (I’m not positive if it’s trespassing either if they were invited. I’ve never run a boarding house, so I’m not super familiar with how state and/or federal laws would treat that. Certainly I think they were not trespassing before being asked to leave, which it sounds like the op did not bother to do. So I’m fairly confident they were not trespassers. 

That was meant to be funny but… I think he said they’re doctors or medical students. There is no scenario where I would expect college students to act like adults. Ever been to spring break? Even if they’re future doctor college students.

At the end of the day this post is about cameras inside of a private space. I’m glad air bnb clarified this policy for the better. As an investor I would do my best not to build a model that requires spying on my guests inside of a home.

If I ran a boarding house or hotel as the op has tried to sell it, the place would be staffed. The op would like to be able to control this building like a private home while spying on the guests remotely. I’m surprised no one else picked up on the pictures the op took of people sleeping on the couch before they had cameras installed. I am willing to bet this is a violation of air bnb s old policy, probably of any other listing platforms they’re using, and potentially of the law. Imagine you were invited into someone’s apartment, you stay the night and the landlord comes in to take pictures of you while you sleep on the couch. 

 College students meet your definition of adults? Lol

The Airbnb policy change has made all of these feeds pop up. I’m slightly amused but more so concerned with the number of landlords that want to spy on tenants. 

As much as I hate he anti landlord movement, I am starting I see why it has come to existence. I saw a post(meme) with a text exchange between a tenant and landlord. 

Landlord: “why did you change the locks on your apartment.”

Tenant: “the fact that you know I changed the locks on my apartment are the reason I changed the locks on my apartment.”

at first I jumped to,”you can’t change the locks as a tenant,” but they’re right. The landlord in this scenario presumably didn’t notify them they were going to enter, or they would have had to admit they changed them. Instead he landlord appears to have attempted to enter while the tenant was out and without notice. 

Why do so many people want to spy on their tenants?

are your cameras hard wired? Just wondering what the consequences will be to unplugging them. I unplug all the smart devices when I get to an Airbnb. Lol

I love the extensive explanation of how they’re doctors or medical students to… try to make it not be a boarding house? 

You’re right cleaning it up for them will not teach them a lesson. And you know who doesn’t care to teach lessons to their guests? Hotels… 

The fact that there’s a code to get in the front door is the main distinguishing factor in my opinion. The minute a guest needs a key or code to get in there is an expectation of privacy. I do repair work at hotels. I’ve never once needed a code to enter. One time a cleaning lady asked me what I was there for because she knew there were no guests on that floor, but otherwise no one has ever asked me who I am or why I’m there. Zero expectation of privacy there. 

I'm actually concerned about the part wheee you took pictures of sleeping people and confronted your guests later. It sounds like you had trespassers and should have called the police. Who did you take the pictures for? I'm just not understanding this at all. This may be the wildest STR I've ever heard of. Your guests appear to have the ability to run a brothel with or without your cameras up and running.

How exactly are you “assigning responsibility” for someone not cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen? What qualifies? Like if I make toast, and leave some crumbs on the counter, what will you do? Do I have to clean the toaster? Take the bottom off and dump the crumbs into the garbage? Or just hand swipe crumbs from the counter onto the floor? I’m being slightly dramatic but it’s a real question. At a hotel I can do any of those, the cleaning people will take care of whatever I didn’t. I can drop jelly on the counter, sprinkle crumbs around, and leave my plate at the table. No one will ever try to “assign responsibility.” They will simply shake their head and clean it up. 

Section 4. “And subsequent like terms.”

How did you make out?

Obviously you want the best deal for you, but I’m a firm believer in keeping contracts that make both sides happy. If your escalation increases to an unacceptable level for them, they’re not going to be happy and therefore they are not going to continue. You said either or, not both. Did they say they would agree to a specific annual escalation? I personally prefer the revenue share. While the potential increase is a gamble from zero to infinite, the security of not creating a lease no longer appealing to the company is guaranteed. Even if you’re locked into a lease that doesn’t give them an easy out, they’ll take a hard out if they’re losing money. 

At this point it’s all your discretion. I am personally happy with my revenue share being a fair deal for both sides.