Do not choose an indoor camera for a holiday let listed on Airbnb: Airbnb prohibits cameras and recording devices that monitor interior spaces, even when switched off. For a non-Airbnb let, check the booking platform’s rules and whether the specific room check is justified and can be done less intrusively before comparing privacy controls, viewing area, storage and Wi-Fi requirements.
Operators considering indoor monitoring for a specific purpose need to assess whether it is necessary, proportionate and transparent to guests. The Information Commissioner’s Office advises organisations to consider less intrusive security options when CCTV is not necessary for their purpose.
Where indoor monitoring is appropriate under the actual letting arrangement, a shutter or lens-concealment control can make the camera’s privacy state easier to see. TP-Link and Ring describe such controls on specific indoor models; the feature does not itself permit monitoring.
Operators considering broader coverage should define the area they need to see before choosing pan/tilt or local recording. They also need to check the property’s Wi-Fi and upload connection: stored footage and a working remote live view are different requirements.
Start with the booking platform and the purpose of the room check. Only if indoor monitoring remains an appropriate option should camera coverage and connection requirements determine the model.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Platform rules and privacy | Check every booking platform’s indoor-camera policy, the exact room and purpose, guest communication and whether a less intrusive measure would suffice. | If I cannot justify filming guests in the room, camera features will not solve the problem. Around 44% of consumers put platform rules and privacy first. |
| Viewing area and detail | Define the required view, then check the stated field of view or pan/tilt range and how recording behaves in the room’s lighting. | For a larger permitted viewing area, I need to see the relevant part of the room without capturing more than the purpose requires. Room coverage is the primary concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Connection and recordings | Check router-band compatibility and upload guidance, plus the exact model’s local-storage requirements and who can access recordings. | When the property’s connection is unreliable, I need to know whether remote viewing and recording will work as intended. Around 23% of consumers prioritise connection and recording arrangements. |
Airbnb prohibits cameras and recording devices monitoring a listing’s interior, even when switched off. A camera’s privacy settings do not change that policy.
Check every platform used for the let before comparing models. For an Airbnb listing, consider a non-camera measure or an exterior-camera arrangement that meets Airbnb’s conditions instead of monitoring inside.
A shutter or app control changes what a device can capture; it does not establish that indoor monitoring is necessary or transparent to guests. The Information Commissioner’s Office advises organisations to consider whether a less intrusive option can meet their purpose.
Set out the specific purpose and viewing area, check the applicable platform and property arrangements, and decide how guests will be informed before relying on a privacy control.
TP-Link describes microSD storage for the Tapo C225, but the card must be checked for the exact model and handled securely. Recording locally does not resolve who may access footage or when it should be deleted.
Confirm whether a compatible card is included, its supported capacity and who can remove it. Establish a retention and deletion process before recording.
Removable storage also needs secure handling and periodic checks.
Indoor models differ in Wi-Fi-band support, and an inadequate upload connection can affect remote viewing. Ring lists 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), while Reolink lists dual-band Wi-Fi for E1 Pro.
Check the router’s bands and security settings, signal at the planned position and the model’s upload guidance. Guest access to Wi-Fi alone does not establish camera compatibility.
The Tapo C225 is a pan/tilt model to consider where a visible privacy control is important and indoor monitoring is appropriate for the letting arrangement.
Indoor Cam S350 offers pan/tilt coverage for a defined viewing area in a larger room, provided that monitoring the area is appropriate.
E1 Pro is a pan/tilt option for operators assessing local recording and coverage of a defined area.
Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is a fixed-view option for a defined area where a built-in privacy cover is preferred.
No. Airbnb prohibits hosts from having cameras or recording devices that monitor any interior space of a listing, even when the devices are switched off or disconnected.
No. A shutter can visibly block a lens, but it does not override Airbnb’s interior-camera prohibition. In another letting arrangement, the operator still needs to assess the purpose, guest transparency and whether a less intrusive measure would work.
Do not assume audio is needed for the room check. The Information Commissioner’s Office notes that CCTV can capture people’s voices as personal information; check whether the model lets you disable audio and assess any proposed use separately from video.
Check the other booking platform’s rules, the specific room and purpose, property permission, guest communication and whether a less intrusive option meets the need. If indoor monitoring remains appropriate, confirm the viewing area, audio controls, Wi-Fi compatibility, access to recordings and how the device will be secured or disabled between stays.