Airbnb markets itself as a home away from home, but for some guests, the experience is anything but welcoming.
A woman is now sharing her story after finding an undisclosed camera in her New Jersey rental—and says it only got worse from there.
Woman’s terrifying Airbnb experience
TikTok creator and musician Iris Grey (@irisgreymusic) recently shared the bewildering Airbnb story on her channel—and viewers were horrified. Her video has since earned over 809,500 views.
Grey explains that she and her husband book Airbnbs constantly and usually leave glowing reviews. “Hosts say that I leave their home spotless,” she said, showing screenshots from past stays. But this time was different.
Before they even checked in, the host sent her a slightly concerning message. “Unless it’s something that is an emergency, or needs to be through Airbnb, we will be texting,” the text read.
Grey admitted, “I did think it was a little weird because I had never had a host say that, but I just thought she was being personable.”
Once checked, the couple noticed sheer curtains covering glass doors that led directly to a shared laundry space. “That was the only thing separating us and the common laundry space, which was directly outside of our unit,” she explained.
Then came the thermostat rule. “When we arrived, she said that we could not put the A/C above 72 or below any colder,” Grey said. The basement unit often hit the high 70s and low 80s, forcing them to stay uncomfortable.
“We never put the A/C any colder than that 72 that she requested, even though it wasn’t in the listing,” she explained. “We just didn’t want any problems.”
Soon after, they spotted a camera tucked away in the hallway outside their doors. Grey stressed it wasn’t inside their unit, but still unnerving.
“This was right outside of our unit doors in that shared laundry space… but it wasn’t disclosed in the listing,” she says. “We were worried that there were other cameras, like in the unit.”
Making matters worse
The thermostat became the breaking point. On August 30, Grey says the host texted her asking them to shut the A/C off completely because she thought it was “not that hot” outside. Grey noted the unit was still at 72 degrees, exactly as the host had instructed.
She tried to stall: “I think my husband might be in the shower, so please just give us a few minutes so that I can contact him, he can get dressed.” But before her husband could even answer her call, the host was allegedly already knocking at the door.
“My husband was shirtless… she said that there was an emergency and they had to get in. There was no emergency,” Grey explained.
Things got especially concerning when the host started recording. “She then proceeded to film the area, and in return, also my shirtless husband,” she shared. “My husband asked, ‘Please do not record me again.’ She declined, saying that it was her home.”
They leave the Airbnb property early
Shaken, the couple packed their belongings on the spot, threw out $150 worth of groceries, and asked Airbnb not to alert the host until they left.
They later received a refund for the unused nights.
But instead of ending there, the host accused them of damaging furniture and stealing kitchen items, sending a long message demanding compensation.
Grey kept videos and photos to dispute every claim, showing the appliances and dishes right where she left them. Still, she told viewers she felt unsafe, adding, “I feel like Airbnb isn’t taking me seriously. I don’t know what to do.”
How safe are Airbnbs?
While most Airbnbs are safe, stories like Grey’s aren’t rare. A recent study actually showed that about 24% of guests report problems, even though Airbnb downplays safety issues. That still translates to hundreds of thousands of troubling stays.
Reddit threads are also full of horror tales: hidden cameras, strange hosts, broken locks, and safety risks travelers didn’t anticipate
Additionally, experts warn that Airbnb lacks consistent safety standards, with more hazards than traditional hotels in areas like smoke detectors, first-aid kits, and privacy.
Most recent update
In a follow-up video, Iris shared some relief: Airbnb offered reimbursement for her last-minute hotel and wasted groceries, and she thanked everyone who helped amplify the issue.
She also noted the Airbnb host edited the property details, now the listing shows five cameras—though marked “not active.”
@irisgreymusic @airbnb I have never experienced something like this. I don’t know what to do. #airbnb #foryou #foryoupage #drama #dramatiktok #xyzbca #airbnbfinds #scared ♬ original sound – IrisGreyMusic
Commenters are appalled
In the comments, users couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
“She entered the apartment within 4 mins of texting AND filmed?” one user asked. “Absolutely not.”
“At this point just use hotels,” another wrote. “Airbnb is not safe anymore.”
A self-proclaimed Superhost warned, “Hidden rules or undisclosed limitations like keeping the AC at a certain temp, cameras indoors—they must be listed upfront. Surprise restrictions are Airbnb policy violations.”
According to the Airbnb help center, this is true; hosts are obligated to “accurately describe the home,” including features and amenities.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Grey and Airbnb via email for comment.
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