Private CCTV in communal area

Miranda74Cat

I would appreciate any advice regarding the use of private CCTV in a communal area.

The situation involves a housing association property comprising six flats. A resident in one of the ground floor flats has installed a CCTV camera in his window, which appears to cover the front garden, entrance, and gate.

My partner is uncomfortable with this arrangement, as he does not wish for this resident to monitor his movements or record him on a personal system.

Could anyone advise on the legal position in this situation, and the most appropriate course of action?

Many thanks in advance.

elsien

There have been other threads about this, and there is also information on the ICO website.

The issue always is around enforcement if there is any breach of how it should

Have you actually spoken to the person who has put the CCTV up because that would be the first step.

Woodstok2000

It's perfectly legal to install cctv on your home which records public areas, however it does mean the system owner has to manage and monitor the system to comply with DPA and GDPR if it records and stores images. If so, the resident will have to respond appropriately to any subject access requests, and complaints could be submitted to the information commissioner if it's not being dealt with appropriately.

Lots more info at the link below, but a good place to start might be having a chat with the neighbour. It could be a false camera, or could have the public areas redacted....

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/home-cctv-systems/

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661492/private-cctv-in-communal-area

have a word with the housing association who may mediate

Miranda74Cat

Thank you to those of you for your time and the advice.

I thought the HA should be the first contact point. I wanted to approach them with the relevant guidance/law on this to make their job as easy as possible.

I personally don't think a neighbour should be recording communal areas, fine to have cameras in their own space, but I certainly do not give my consent to being recorded.

unforeseen

How do you cope when out and about? You probably get recorded on a dozen or so cameras in public areas in towns and cities

Auti

@unforseen I understand what you are saying but the in example you gave you are filmed anonymously as part of a mass. In the op post this is an individual who knows them and can easily monitor their personal behaviour 24/7 where op has no choice or privacy from this individual- I would not like this especially if I did not have a good relationship with them or they had dubious friends ( let’s check cctv - yes they are out) . This is just my thoughts.

Edited for meaning

Altior

If there was a serious crime in the area, including the communal one, the first thing the police would do is look for properties with domestic cctv coverage, and ask for any relevant footage…

Miranda74Cat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941535#Comment_81941535

Exactly, thank you for the total understanding. 👍🏻

Jemma01

I've had police at my door 3 times for CCTV and ring doorbell footage. After all, if a house is broken into, or some form of violence happens in the building, those cameras will come in handy.

Is your problem that the cameras are managed by a neighbour, or is your objection to the HA as well having cameras in communal areas?

My cameras have views on the driveways of my neighbours, not fully, but I can certainly see who goes in and out, I'm not interested in anyone's behaviour, they're unmonitored, they're there for my safety and the benefit of the neighbourhood when a crime is reported. Your partner's neighbour is probably the same case, and being in a ground floor, he's more likely to be burglarised than your partner (if it didn't already happen).

Best solution is your partner meets you in your place, and you avoid going there. It doesn't sound like he's the one "uncomfortable". Don't steer issues for neighbours you don't live nearby.

Miranda74Cat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81945011#Comment_81945011

My partner's neighbour is not 'the same case'.

My partner does not want the neighbour snooping on him via a private camera.

Do you have signs up informing others they are being recorded?