As a landlord, keeping your rental property safe is a significant priority. Explore the ways you can protect yourself and your tenants from break-ins and theft by installing security cameras on a rental property.
The safety and security of your tenants and property should be a priority for landlords, so it is natural for a landlord to want to install security cameras on a rental property. You can reduce the likelihood of vandalism and robbery, keep your tenants safe, and help keep the neighborhood safer as a whole by adding security measures. But there are some details and rules to be aware of before you start purchasing and installing cameras.
There are many factors you should consider when purchasing and installing these cameras. While laws may differ from state to state, some general guidelines can ensure your security measures keep your residents feeling safe and protected while maintaining tenant privacy.
Where and how should you install security cameras on a rental property?
Certain states and municipalities regulate where you can install security cameras. Be sure to investigate your area’s regulations before investing in a security system. If you have properties in different cities within the same state, this should be researched on an individual basis. Beyond laws and regulations, there are also methods to identify the best way to install security cameras.
Outdoor security cameras are permitted in most places, provided they do not look into the property. Common areas, such as shared hallways and stairwells in an indoor apartment complex, may also be allowed, but you should confirm this with your local legislature before installing them. Additional communal areas include pools, patios, parking lots, and other similar locations.
Additionally, as installing security cameras would make changes to your property, communicate with your tenants before installing any cameras. If the cameras are installed between tenants, it is a good idea to inform any incoming tenants of the security cameras. This can be marketed as a safety feature to prospective tenants.
For a rental property, the best security measures to install include doorbell cameras, smart locks, automatic lights, and traditional security cameras. Doorbell cameras allow you or your tenants to see anyone who comes to the door. It can prevent break-ins and mail theft, or allow users to see who comes to their door. Smart locks can be locked or unlocked from a user’s phone. This can help ensure that doors are locked when occupants leave, and carries the additional benefit of making it easy to help someone who has been locked out.
Automatic lights can serve the dual functions of alerting an occupant to the presence of a person or animal wandering around the property at night and ensuring that anyone who may want to break in would not have the cover of darkness. Cameras, of course, can be used to see and/or record people around the property, which can help identify anyone who might break into the property.
As with all things, communication is key, and ensuring that your tenants know what you are installing is important. Emphasize the benefits of these security measures, but assure them and ensure that their privacy will still be protected.
Does your property fall under security camera regulations?
At the federal level, it is typically legal for an individual to record public spaces, but illegal to do so in places with an expected level of privacy. However, most states have varying laws regulating security. It is extremely important to note that this law exists on a federal level, and states may have differing expectations.
Certain states regulate what can be done with your cameras and other security measures. For example, some states are all-party consent states, meaning that recording someone’s voice without their knowledge is illegal. According to The Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press, these states include:
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
If you come from one of these states, you should look further into all-party consent (also called two-party consent) laws. The way they are implemented in these states may also vary, meaning that you should look into your specific state’s all-party consent laws. Additionally, while some states may not have all-party consent laws, they may have additional legislation about what you can do with security cameras.
Even if you do not live in any of the states with specific security camera laws, you may not be entirely free of regulation at the local level. Your city or county might have laws of its own, which you should always look into.
Read more: Top 10 Landlord-Tenant Laws to Remember
Can a tenant install security cameras on a rental property?
Typically, renters can install security cameras without issue, unless their lease or HOA rules explicitly forbid it. There are additional factors to consider, though. Best practice for tenants is to check in with their landlord before installing anything. Renters considering installing security cameras should discuss what kind of security measures they are hoping to install and what the installation process would entail. Even if it’s not expressly forbidden in the lease agreement or local laws, certain security installations may affect the property or neighbors’ privacy and may conflict with local ordinances or the lease terms. Depending on the impacts of these measures, additional discussions may be warranted.
With that in mind, there are some renter-friendly security camera options available on the market today. Some are easily portable and do not require any permanent changes to your property during installation.
Final Thoughts:
Installing security in your rental is an excellent way to keep your tenants and property safe. But it is not something that should be undertaken without forethought. Before installing, you should consider local laws, communicate with your tenants, and consider what security measures are right for your needs.
