Many people put up security cameras to give themselves peace of mind. While some opt for CCTV, others use doorbell cameras to see who is coming down the path towards their homes. However, one woman revealed how installing cameras had caused more harm than good. That’s because it ignited a feud with her neighbour – who made a rather bizarre request.
In a candid Reddit post, the resident spoke about the man living next door. She recalled: “He asked if I can change a few of my camera angles so that it can have HIS house in the view as well.” The woman initially laughed off the request, assuming it was a joke.
But unfortunately, he was being serious and “doubled down” on the demand. She refused the odd request – and he threatened to report her to authorities. So at a loss about what to do, she asked people on the forum for advice.
She continued: “Another neighbour of mine texted me that my neighbor was so upset about the outcome of his inquiry that he apparently has decided to pull out of our Neighbourhood Watch.
“His reasoning being that he ‘doesn’t feel like neighbors are truly trying to look out for each other’ so he will only ‘watch his own back from now on’.”
The woman later posted an update, claiming the HOA reassured she had done nothing wrong. She said: “I appreciate your comments and suggestions! I did reach out to my HOA yesterday via email about the situation.
“They responded a few hours after saying that they were made aware of the situation, but that no rule was broken. That I’m in my rights to have surveillance of my property. They also added a reminder to try to limit the view of other properties.”
In the comments section, people had similar opinions about the situation. One said: “Ahhhh, the entitled neighbor. He wants the benefits of having home security but refuses to pay for it. I’d tell him to jog on and get his own.”
Another person warned: “Access to your system would definitely violate your privacy, the privacy of your household and any visitors. He could see when you have packages delivered, steal them, and then delete the footage. Your private business could even end up on the internet.”
In the UK, the use of doorbell cameras, such as smart video doorbells, is generally legal. However, there are specific laws and guidelines that apply to protect people’s privacy.
If your doorbell camera only records your private property (e.g., your front door, driveway, or garden), no formal obligations under data protection laws apply because you’re using the camera for personal or household purposes.
If your doorbell camera captures areas beyond your property, such as a public footpath, street, or neighbour’s property, you become a data controller under UK GDPR because you’re collecting personal data of individuals outside your household.
Even if your use of doorbell cameras is compliant with data protection laws, you must still respect other people’s privacy. u0009Avoid pointing the camera directly at a neighbour’s property, especially windows, back gardens, or other private areas.
Using your doorbell camera to intentionally spy on or harass neighbours or members of the public could lead to civil or even criminal consequences. You should also be mindful about who you share the footage with.
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