Cheap efficient way to monitor housemates

robatwork

The software on the panasonic BL cameras I found pretty good at monitoring an old house - motion detection etc that could be set to certain hours.

Personally I would go with the rake on the floor just inside the door that they step on - voila, your own tom & jerry cartoon captured on camera.

scarletjim

macman wrote: »

Yes. I suggest that if you tell your housemates about your plan to install webcams, then shortly afterwards you will be looking for some new housemates. No one's going to believe that you aren't doing this just to spy on them, and I don't blame them.
What have you got in your room that they will be so interested in (on second thoughts, don't answer that)?

I'm spying on MY ROOM - if they aren't in my room, then they won't appear on camera - if they are concerned at being 'spied on' by my plan, then that suggests they do intend to enter my room without my knowledge, so I'll be happy to go without those housemates thanks.

SuzieSue

scarletjim wrote: »

I'm spying on MY ROOM - if they aren't in my room, then they won't appear on camera - if they are concerned at being 'spied on' by my plan, then that suggests they do intend to enter my room without my knowledge, so I'll be happy to go without those housemates thanks.

If you are putting the CCTV in your room only then why would you even consider telling them as they would never know?

Avoriaz

If you install CCTV and tell your housemates what you have done, it probably won't be long before they decide on playing a drink induced prank on you by invading the room and recording all sorts of antics for your viewing pleasure.

My advice is to drop the expensive and cumbersome CCTV idea and install a simple and inexpensive lock.

phill99

scarletjim wrote: »

Yes I'm paranoid. (rolls eyes). I must have dreamt up the various stories I have been told by friends about houseshares they have had... Just because you're naive don't moan at me for being cautious when there is already plenty of evidence to suggest that I should be.

There are plenty of stories about bus crashes, train crashes and plane crashes. But you dont stop using them. There are plenty of stories about dodgy doctors and dentists. But you still get your teeth looked at and your piles sorted.

But the stories that you hear when something goes wrong are a tiny percentage compared with house shares where everything goes right. There are hundreds of thousands of lodgers in the UK, most of whom who live amicably with their landlords. Its about give and take on both sides and creating trust.

What is to stop you wandering in to your lodgers rooms and rifling through their stuff? Why don't you put locks on their rooms too? If you just had locks on your room and not on your lodgers, I would be suspicious of you if I lived in pyour house.

99% of lodgers just want to have a decent place to stay in nice surroundings. They don't want to loose their accommodation, so why would they jeapordise things by looking inder your bed when your out.

You just have it all out of proportion.

Avoriaz

phill99 wrote: »

..There are plenty of stories about dodgy doctors and dentists. But you still get your teeth looked at and your piles sorted. ....

Don't you have that the wrong way around?

Or do you have an adventurous and versatile dentist?

phill99

scarletjim wrote: »

I'm spying on MY ROOM - if they aren't in my room, then they won't appear on camera - if they are concerned at being 'spied on' by my plan, then that suggests they do intend to enter my room without my knowledge, so I'll be happy to go without those housemates thanks.

So the next time you take a ldy back to your room on a Saturday night and they see CCTV cameras, they are going to tell you to get f*****d right off. For all they know you are beaming your nocturnal activities right across the web.

sillygoose

phill99 wrote: »

So the next time you take a ldy back to your room on a Saturday night and they see CCTV cameras, they are going to tell you to get f*****d right off. For all they know you are beaming your nocturnal activities right across the web.

do you have a link?

phill99

sillygoose wrote: »

do you have a link?

https://www.iamaparanoidexhibitionist.com

Gewens

I install alot of CCTV, but I dont think using it in this situation would be a good idea.
I think a lock would be your best option.
You could use one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Listers-Design-Metal-3-Lever-Mortice-Lock-Pack-2-Handles-2-Hinges-1-Lock-2-Keys-/281019991127?pt=UK_HaG_Lock_Safes_GL&var=580156204780&hash=item416e18c457
or if you want some tech (and I get the feeling you do) you could use one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RFID-Proximity-Entry-Door-Lock-Access-Control-System-N-/180627347653?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a0e3a98c5
You would still need to purchase a strike and a power supply but it would be alot cheaper than some of the entry systems above. I install these and they are great little unit.
Let me know if you need any help with the above.