The line that matters most
Do not install cameras or recording devices that monitor the inside of a short-term rental. Major booking platforms can prohibit indoor cameras even when they are switched off, and hidden cameras are strictly prohibited.
Exterior cameras may be allowed when they comply with current platform rules, local law, building requirements and privacy expectations. Their locations should be disclosed clearly to guests, and they should not cover private outdoor spaces where a guest would reasonably expect privacy.
What owners normally install
A camera covering the entrance from outside, recording arrivals and departures. This covers most of what an owner actually wants: who came in, how many people, and when the property was vacated.
For villas, external cover of the gate, driveway and grounds. For apartments, an entrance camera subject to what the building permits.
Disclose it
Exterior cameras should be disclosed exactly as required by the booking platform and any applicable rules. Check the current platform policy before publishing the listing because these requirements can change.
Disclosure also has a deterrent effect, which is often the point.
Apartment buildings
For a short-term rental, do not place cameras inside the guest accommodation. A camera in a shared corridor or on the building exterior may also require building management approval and must comply with the platform's disclosure rules and applicable privacy requirements.
Buildings with a lot of short-term letting sometimes have specific rules about this, so it is worth asking before installing.
Checking between guests
The practical benefit of remote viewing for an owner is being able to confirm the property is empty and secure after a checkout, particularly if you are not in the country. Live view plus motion alerts on the entrance covers this.
Villas
For a villa let short term, exterior cover of the gate, driveway, grounds and pool area is the norm. Pool coverage has a safety dimension as well as security, though it does not replace supervision.
What we set up
Entrance and exterior cover appropriate to the property type, remote viewing configured so you can check the property from anywhere, and alerts if you want them. We can help identify practical installation issues, but the owner or manager should confirm current platform, building and legal requirements before installation.