Donna and Raymond Nunn, a retired couple, discovered hidden cameras in their Madrid Airbnb, including one pointed directly at their bed, during a 'bucket-list' trip to celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary. The discovery forced them to leave the property and seek alternative accommodation, and Airbnb has since issued a full refund and suspended the listing.
Discovery of the Hidden Cameras
The couple arrived at the apartment in Lavapies, a vibrant neighbourhood in the city centre, on August 3. Upon arrival, they noticed a motion sensor in the living room angled towards the front door, but saw no flashing lights and presumed it was off. The next day, Raymond, 87, who stayed behind while Donna, 62, went sightseeing, noticed another camera in the bedroom facing the bed, with a green flashing light.
Donna, originally from Kent, told Talk to the Press: 'We live in Spain but we were going to Madrid as a bucket-list trip that we’ve wanted to do for ages and to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary this month. We booked in March and had a typical conversation with the host who planned to meet us there.'
Immediate Response and Aftermath
The couple contacted Airbnb for advice and were told to leave the apartment immediately. However, by then it was 8pm, and they were forced to sleep there and wait until they could safely find somewhere else to stay. The following day, they left for an apartment two hours south of the city, cutting their sightseeing short.
Donna described the fear: 'We were both shaking when we realised. Raymond took the camera off the wall and turned it around, but it was horrifying. We managed to book another place a couple of hours away, which was nice but meant that we couldn’t finish the sightseeing. It’s a shame because we will never go back to Madrid now because of this.'
Airbnb's Policy and Response
In 2024, Airbnb introduced a worldwide ban on the use of security cameras inside rental properties following a consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts. The rules allow the use of doorbell cameras and noise monitors in common areas, but these must be disclosed on the property’s listing page. The couple's listing has been removed from the website, and they have received a full refund for the trip and rebooking.
An Airbnb spokesperson said: 'We have issued a full refund to the guest and have suspended the listing while we conduct a further investigation into this matter. In 2024, we banned all indoor security cameras in listings regardless of where they are placed, or whether they are deactivated during guest stays. In the rare event of a violation of our policy on security cameras we take appropriate action, which can include removing listings and users from Airbnb. Stays reserved through Airbnb are overwhelmingly defined by positive experiences, and we take any reports of issues made to us seriously.'
The couple left the Airbnb on August 5, 2026, just two days after they arrived, and have stated they will not return to Madrid.
