Five Families Evacuate Airbnb After Disturbing Discovery

A shocking incident forced five families to leave their Airbnb accommodation in Australia recently.

Upon checking into their four-bedroom rental, Chris and Kate Hardman were startled to find a large camera aimed directly at the living room.

The camera had a blinking red light, which Hardman caught on video.

“This place is nice, but there’s something I just don’t get. Maybe you can help me,” he said in a post, addressing his social media followers.

“Is this even allowed in Airbnbs? Is it normal practice? Because it seems like it shouldn’t be.”

In another clip, the couple explained that they ultimately chose to leave their rental and find a hotel, feeling quite “scared” after the discovery.

“The safety of our three kids was our main concern,” Hardman mentioned.

Airbnb expressed full support, stating that the couple could relocate and they would find comparable accommodation—a four-bedroom place in the center of Perth.

They even offered to cover the costs of hotel stays and facilitate finding new properties at no extra charge.

Yet, Hardman felt that communication from Airbnb dwindled after learning that replacement options might be exorbitantly priced.

Following several online petitions, the family disclosed they received compensation after their video drew attention from Airbnb’s higher management.

“It made it up the chain really quickly,” Hardman shared.

“We ended up with a coupon that took care of things. They found us another property close by and are refunding everything.”

A representative from Airbnb Australia and New Zealand clarified that recording devices in indoor spaces are strictly prohibited, even if they’re not operational.

“We issued a full refund to the guests and assisted them in rebooking,” the spokesperson confirmed.

They emphasized that while issues related to safety are rare, users have access to a safety team through a 24-hour hotline.

However, Hardman remarked, “It’s unfortunate that it took social media’s influence for Airbnb to step up and make things right.”