I found out my airbnb host was watching me

It was supposed to be a quiet weekend. I’d rented a small Airbnb outside of Montreal—a cabin, wood stove, no neighbors for miles. Just what I needed after a brutal two months of nonstop work.

The place looked perfect. Clean. Cozy. Rustic. The host had great reviews, too—“respectful,” “never intrusive,” “helpful if needed.” I met him briefly when I arrived. Maybe 40s. Wore sunglasses even though it was cloudy. He said barely ten words.

That night, I lit a fire, made some pasta, and opened a book.

Around 11:30 p.m., I heard a click.

At first, I thought it was just the stove settling. But then again—click.

Like a camera shutter.

I froze.

I scanned the room. Everything looked normal. But I couldn’t shake it. I checked my phone. No signal.

I walked around slowly. Looked behind curtains. Opened cabinets. Nothing.

Then I noticed the smoke detector. It had two lenses. One was definitely a camera lens.

I climbed on a chair and unscrewed it. Inside: a small camera. Active.

I packed my bag and left immediately. Drove two hours back to the city. At 3 a.m., I reported it to Airbnb. Took photos, sent a full report.

They removed the listing within 24 hours.

I never got a refund.

But here’s what still haunts me: I don’t know how much he saw. If he was watching live. If he recorded it.

What if I hadn’t noticed?

Since then, I always check. Always.

Because sometimes, a 5-star review hides a 1-star truth.