CCTV domestic use

Quillsnpens

Hi All

My landlord is trying to sell the flat we currently rent from her. Given the price it is listed at I don't anticipate it selling any time soon (its been on the market for about a year now). Since my partner and I both work now there is no one home during the viewings. Whilst I am OK with viewings taking place, I was hoping to convert my laptops / tablets webcams into remote monitoring devices during the viewings.

I don't think this will be captured within GDPR regulations as will only capture domestic use and i will warn the letting agents about the cameras but just wanted to check with the knowledgeable folk here if there are any other regulations / laws i should be aware of?

Thanks in advance

theartfullodger

Yeah:. You don't have to permit viewings or keep the place tidy, legally.

Request 50% off rent to permit any viewings. If they argue, 60%

Artful:. Landlord

Comms69

You can record anything you like inside your property, you don't need to inform anyone.

Quillsnpens

Thanks both for confirming.

@Artful: I like your thinking but am a on reasonably good deal paying a little below the going rate for rent in my area. The viewings aren't too onerous, maybe once or twice a month. If they become more frequent, i might push back using your suggestion.

Will also need to check what my AST says regarding viewings.

thanks

mluton

I use this: https://www.contaware.com/contacam.html

SouthLondonUser

Comms69 wrote: »

You can record anything you like inside your property, you don't need to inform anyone.

Patently not true. It depends on who you're recording and why.

Eg if your house is someone's workplace (eg a cleaner, a nanny, even a builder) it opens up a legal can of worms.

I have no idea about the laws on recording viewings in a residential property. But I wouldn't trust advice on complex legal matters from random strangers on the internet

Comms69

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Patently not true. It depends on who you're recording and why.

Eg if your house is someone's workplace (eg a cleaner, a nanny, even a builder) it opens up a legal can of worms.

I have no idea about the laws on recording - yes, obviously viewings in a residential property. But I wouldn't trust advice on complex legal matters from random strangers on the internet

It is true. It's fine.

davidmcn

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Eg if your house is someone's workplace (eg a cleaner, a nanny, even a builder) it opens up a legal can of worms.

Depends whether there's a legitimate expectation of privacy e.g. is it a camera in the toilet they'll be using, or are you watching the builder rummaging through your knicker drawer?

Things might be different where there's an employer/employee relationship, but in general I would expect contractors to accept that they need to deal with whatever the CCTV regime might be at the venues they're working. If people have any sense they'll realise there could be covert webcams around the place anyway.

SouthLondonUser

@davidmcn, may I ask how you can be so sure?

I am no expert, and I would certainly look into the legal implications very, very well before setting up any kind of domestic CCTV to record other people in my property.

All I am saying is that it's a complex matter and I have no way of knowing if you are a solicitor who's an expert in privacy matters, or just some random bloke on the web

davidmcn

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

@davidmcn, may I ask how you can be so sure?

I am no expert, and I would certainly look into the legal implications very, very well before setting up any kind of domestic CCTV to record other people in my property.

All I am saying is that it's a complex matter and I have no way of knowing if you are a solicitor who's an expert in privacy matters, or just some random bloke on the web

I'm a random solicitor on the web.

Smodlet

davidmcn wrote: »

I'm a random solicitor on the web.

... But we have only your word for that, sir.

Please, your worship, it is my understanding that you can record what you like; it is what you do with that recording which may incur the wrath of the law. Is this correct?

What about all these types with their mobile phones recording anything and everything in the street? There are bound to be some who prefer not to be thus recorded.

If you have to report a crime, the first thing the police ask is, "Did you film it?" If the answer is no, you might as well not bother reporting it these days, imho.