There are not many issues in the rental community that can trigger a deep, immediate distrust from both sides of the contract with just one word. Securing a piece of rental property sure is one of them, especially with all of the technology available today.
Without wading too deep into the issue for this article, it is crucial both a landlord and a renter are on the same page when it comes to the injection of technology into the business relationship. We cannot stress this point enough!
A landlord is not obligated to remove cameras keeping an eye on the front door to their property just because a tenant all of a sudden feels “creeped out” by being “spied on.” And a tenant is not obligated to allow a landlord to convert them into some sort of pseudo-reality-tv-personality ready and available for their viewing pleasure, let alone bearing the risk of the video passed along completely detached from the context in which it was derived (for starters).
This is why we strongly recommend both a landlord and a renter reach a thorough understanding of what types of security measures are in place with the property, especially when it comes to cameras. If a potential renter is uncomfortable with a landlord’s security policies, it will end up being a no-fault imbalanced relationship. In other words, the landlord is not wrong for wanting to keep their property secure for their tenants and the tenant chose to enter a business relationship that was already creating a sense of uncomfortability.
Here is a short list of questions a landlord should be able to answer right away:
1. Where are the cameras located?
2. Who is permitted access to the footage and for what purpose?
3. How long will you keep the footage?
4. Will I have access to the feed?
5. What steps should I take to request preservation of recordings that involve me/my life/etc., like if a break-in occurs?
6. How will I be notified if/when new equipment is installed? How long after installation?
The bottom line for renters is that landlords should not be afraid to answer any of these questions. In fact, they should be presenting the information as a perk of becoming a tenant, but discomfort with your security measures is not a signal a prospective renter intends on committing criminal activity on your property! In turn, renters need to feel comfortable and confident when asking these types of questions. It will give you an opportunity to decide whether or not a landlord’s security efforts are a good match for your housing needs and avoid confusion down the line.