Can My Neighbour Have CCTV Pointing At My House? (UK)

If you live near security conscious neighbours with CCTV, it might make you feel uncomfortable if they have cameras pointed at your house. This can leave you wondering, “can my neighbour have CCTV pointed at my house?”.

If you have questions around whether your neighbours are legally allowed to have a security camera aimed this way, then hopefully this article will answer your queries. The short answer is that in most cases your neighbour is allowed to have security cameras pointed at your house, but there are a few exceptions, as you have the right not to be recorded in private areas (e.g your bedroom). There are several ways to come to an agreement.

The Law Around Surveillance – Where Can Security Cameras Be Pointed?

Your neighbours are naturally within their rights to implement security measures, including security cameras, with the intention of protecting their property and preventing burglary. They are allowed to position security cameras on and around their house, as long as they are installed within the boundaries of their land.

This means your neighbours are allowed to have a security camera which captures the outside of your property, for example your front door. This is now a very common occurrence in the UK, with the rise in popularity of security camera doorbells like the Ring doorbell.

What Can I Do If My Neighbour Has A Camera Pointed At My House?

Your neighbour will need to respect GDPR, which regulates general data protection. Thanks to this regulation, you are within your rights to request footage recorded which captures your property. GDPR means your neighbours will legally have to provide this footage to you, as well as clearly signpost informing people that there is CCTV recording, using a sign such as this.

For more information on the exact laws around Domestic CCTV systems in the UK, read the publication by ico.org here.

One important quote which concisely summarises the verdict is:

“It is highly unlikely the ICO will consider it fair or balanced to take enforcement action against a domestic CCTV user.”

ico.org.uk

If My House Is Broken Into, Can I Request The Footage From My Neighbour’s CCTV?

If your house has been broken into and you believe your neighbour’s security cameras may have recorded the incident, you can request access to the footage. This, as explained above, falls under GDPR. Luckily, most neighbours are very understanding and will be more than happy to oblige. If they don’t hand over the footage, this can be considered as breaking UK recording laws, which can have serious consequences.

The specifics around this will depend on individual circumstances, but it is worth communicating with the police or lawyers to seek specific advice around whether this.

Who Do I Complain To About My Neighbour’s CCTV?

If you feel that your neighbour’s CCTV is overly invasive and is a breach of privacy, the best option to take is to try to come to an agreement directly with the neighbours who own the security cameras. They may be willing to reposition their cameras, but it’s important to understand that their main priority with using surveillance is to protect their property.

Failing this, you may be able to file a complaint with ico.co.uk, but they are unlikely to force action from your neighbours since it’s unlikely that their CCTV system is breaking the law, as recording for security purposes is within their rights.

Can Neighbours Record Me In My Garden?

If a neighbour’s security camera is directed at your private property, for example your back garden, you should speak to your neighbours and explain that their cameras should be directed at their property, as you feel it invades your privacy. From what I understand, this can be considered recording an individual on their own private property, which is different to a CCTV camera capturing the front of your house.

Most security cameras do have the ability to overlay a “privacy mask” over your property, which blacks this section of the security camera’s recordings out. This means that you are both happy, as it allows your neighbours to secure there property without infringing on your personal right to privacy. If they do not have the ability to block out your property from recording, you may also be able to ask them to physically add a blinder on one side of the camera, which blocks your property out.

It is definitely worth speaking with them politely first, as they may not realise their camera is recording your property instead of theirs. If they aren’t willing to talk, it may be worth contacting a solicitor and getting a more official letter of complaint sent to them. It’s a tricky and nuanced situation, because it’s common for gardens in the UK to be close together, meaning it’s very difficult for them to record CCTV of their garden without other people’s gardens also being in frame.

Conclusion – Why Your Neighbour’s Recording Your Property May Be A Good Thing

Your neighbour has most likely installed security cameras purely for the purposes of protecting their property. It’s highly unlikely their main aim is to spy on you, even if it may personally feel that way. You may also actually find yourself in a situation where a recording of your property is actually a good thing, for example if a car thief takes your car from in front of your house and a neighbour’s camera picks it up. You may find you are actually grateful than your neighbour has this on camera, as it may end up becoming vital evidence for authorities when it comes to retrieving stolen property or finding a culprit.

If you will still prefer that your neighbour does not record your property, see if you can speak with them and come to a compromise. At the end of the day though, if your front door is directly opposite their front door, if would be very challenging for them to use a Ring doorbell or other camera without having your property also in frame. If they are using a more traditional multi-camera security system, you may be able to get them to block your property out of shot digitally or physically.

Where is gets more complicated is if their cameras record your private property, for example your back garden. If they are unwilling to reposition the camera of block your garden from the recording, it may be worth contacting a solicitor or investing in some taller fences. The best option with neighbourly disputes is always the peaceful option, but sometimes this can be a challenge.