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Neighbour - Ring camera in communal flat corridor - allowed?

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Comments

  • Snuggles
    Snuggles Posts: 1,005 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Do the flats have a secure entry system - so the neighbour would already have control over who they let in the main door to visit their flat? If so, I would find it a bit strange that they've installed the Ring camera.  
  • Snuggles said:
    Do the flats have a secure entry system - so the neighbour would already have control over who they let in the main door to visit their flat? If so, I would find it a bit strange that they've installed the Ring camera.  
    They do have a secure entry system. Glad someone else finds it a bit strange.
    leypt1 said:
    Is the OP not just trying to understand the limits of his right to privacy?
    Totally disturbed by all the "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" responses
    That's exactly what I'm trying to understand, yet many people on this thread seem be ignoring this, and have just resorted to making horrible jibes like I'm running a brothel or having some sort of illicit affair. Such a lovely place for a discussion.
  • Snuggles said:
    Do the flats have a secure entry system - so the neighbour would already have control over who they let in the main door to visit their flat? If so, I would find it a bit strange that they've installed the Ring camera.  

    They don't have control over the people everyone else lets in through the front door though.  In my experience lots of people will buzz people in who aren't actually visiting them.  Happened to me the other day when I accidentally pressed the wrong number, said a cheery "hello, it's me" to a random stranger and was given access even though they had no idea who I was.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 14 November 2020 at 11:19AM
    NinjaTune said:
    Snuggles said:
    Do the flats have a secure entry system - so the neighbour would already have control over who they let in the main door to visit their flat? If so, I would find it a bit strange that they've installed the Ring camera.  
    They don't have control over the people everyone else lets in through the front door though.  In my experience lots of people will buzz people in who aren't actually visiting them.  Happened to me the other day when I accidentally pressed the wrong number, said a cheery "hello, it's me" to a random stranger and was given access even though they had no idea who I was.
    Yes, given the OP refers to a concierge and other areas already having CCTV, I guess it's a sizable development, in which case you could have 100 or so relative strangers buzzing people in (or letting strangers tailgate them through the door). Or indeed, not really trust the other residents themselves!
  • cymruchris
    cymruchris Posts: 5,551 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    NinjaTune said:
    Snuggles said:
    Do the flats have a secure entry system - so the neighbour would already have control over who they let in the main door to visit their flat? If so, I would find it a bit strange that they've installed the Ring camera.  

    They don't have control over the people everyone else lets in through the front door though.  In my experience lots of people will buzz people in who aren't actually visiting them.  Happened to me the other day when I accidentally pressed the wrong number, said a cheery "hello, it's me" to a random stranger and was given access even though they had no idea who I was.
    Totally - this would be a reason that if I was in an apartment block (as i once was a few years ago) I would be wanting one myself. Other tenants often let anybody in. 
  • cymruchris
    cymruchris Posts: 5,551 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    That's exactly what I'm trying to understand, yet many people on this thread seem be ignoring this, and have just resorted to making horrible jibes like I'm running a brothel or having some sort of illicit affair. Such a lovely place for a discussion.
    When people think you're making a mountain out of a molehill you will get responses that tend to be along those lines. If the area is one where anyone can wander (ie a communal area) - neighbours, visitors, delivery drivers, Jehovah witnesses, the gas man, the electricity meter reader, the odd-job person, the bathroom fitter, the plumber, the electrician and whoever knows who else - then I can understand why they want one. Sadly as you live in an apartment block you don't have another route to your front door (unless you intend to get in and out of the window) - so you're likely going to get nowhere with any kind of complaint on the issue - you often get a lot of common sense replies here - when you get through to the detail, and a lot of good advice has been given, but don't think it's had any impact on your thinking.

    But do update us as to your progress as to how you get on. I think the best you can do is to ask your neighbour to angle it slightly so they can't see your wallpaper, but to be fair they'll still see you coming and going, and with whom, and with what. But, I (and others) would point out that they won't be remotely interested in your comings and goings. They are just adding a layer of home security to their property.
  • pulliptears
    pulliptears Posts: 14,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Amazon Ring doorbells have been in the news for catching fire - not great in a block of flats.
    Caused by people not using the supplied screws to fit them.  More user error than Amazon.
  • wjr4
    wjr4 Posts: 1,271 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I can’t imagine ever needing a ring doorbell in a flat. I have one for my house for security reasons and for parcels. Surely there is no need for one in a flat? 
    I find that weird. 
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and should not be seen as financial advice.
  • I think it will essentially be down to the management company - if they think it breaches a term in the lease they can do something about it. If it doesn't, they can't. Speak to your management company about it and see what their take on the matter is. If they say it's OK then I think you just have to accept it.
    As someone mentioned above you may open a can of worms - management companies love any excuse to spend money so you could incur higher service charges for subsequent work (signs, legal action against the tenant, upgraded CCTV for the block etc etc).
  • Could it be that the person has a mobility problem and cannot get to the door quick enough or lives alone and wants to know who is outside the door or is out a lot etc etc 
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