New Yorkers Want Old Home Photos Gone

If you’ve ever sold a home in New York, there’s a good chance the listing photos are still floating around online. And most homeowners are not okay with that anymore. A new survey shows that 83 percent of New Yorkers think the state should step in and require those old photos to be deleted once a sale is final.

People aren’t just annoyed by the photos, they see them as a real danger. Many say the pictures give strangers a clear look inside their homes, long after they’ve moved in.

Photos Can Be a Roadmap for Criminals

The study surveyed 2,000 homeowners across the country, found that New Yorkers are uneasy about who can still see their kitchens, bedrooms, kids’ playrooms, and other private spaces online. Families worry that criminals can use those photos to see where valuables might be kept or how to get into the house.

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Police in several states have already warned that burglars look at old real estate photos to plan break-ins. The FBI has even linked old listing pictures to fake rental scams, where someone steals the photos and posts them as a bogus listing to trick renters out of money.

Parents Are the Most Concerned

The group most worried about this are people expecting a baby. Eighty-even percent of expectant parents say those photos should be taken down by law. When you’re getting ready for a new child, the idea of strangers looking at your home makes it different.

Who Should Decide What Stays Online?

Most homeowners say the person who buys the home should get to decide whether the photos stay up. Many people don’t realize they don't have permanent rights to the listing photos when the home goes on the market. That means websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin can leave the photos up for years.

Only a small number of people think the seller or agent should make that decision, and hardly anyone trusts listing websites or MLS associations to handle it.

Why the Photos Don’t Go Away

The main reason the images stay online is money. Real estate sites get traffic and ad revenue when people look at old listings. Keeping photos up means more clicks, and more clicks mean more cash. The problem is that the homeowner now living in the house didn’t agree to any of that.

Could New York Pass a Law?

With so many homeowners speaking up, there’s growing pressure on lawmakers in New York to take action. People think the rules need to catch up with the risks, just like they did with foreclosure laws and other real estate protections. Homeowners want safety and privacy to come before website traffic.

What You Can Do Right Now

Until the law changes, there are a few steps you can take. You can ask your real estate agent to request photo removal through the MLS after you close on your home. You can also send takedown requests directly to websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. Another simple step is to search your address on Google and request removal of old cached photos.