When installing surveillance cameras in your rental property, you have to be aware that putting up such a security measure is not just about installing a device, turning it on, and leaving it be. There are legal implications and issues involved. One of which is the concern on your tenant’s privacy.

On the part of the landlord, surveillance cameras can help them keep their investment property and their tenants secure. On the part of the tenants, they also don’t want a device to monitor private activities and interactions inside their home.

Both arguments are valid because, from a business perspective, a landlord’s property and his clients are his assets that he needs to protect at all costs. Tenants, on the other hand, deserve a private living space safe from any invasion of their privacy.

In most cases, landlords and tenants can meet halfway by:

• Positioning cameras only on common areas such as lobbies, elevators, hallways, etc.
• Making the cameras visible
• Informing all tenants where all the security cameras are
• Being clear to all parties on what is the purpose of installing the cameras
• Must adhere to rental housing laws related to property video and audio surveillance

However, minor mistakes in executing this security measure can still make you legally accountable as a landlord, even if you are unaware of violating specific local laws related to security cameras.

If you are uncertain if you can install security cameras without encountering problems with your tenants, there are less riskier alternatives that you can use.

Motion-sensor lights

Since one of the main reasons why landlords want to install security cameras is to deter trespassers, security lights that turn on when it detects motion could easily startle trespassers, like a deer in headlights experience.

Motion-sensor lights can also save you electricity cost because they will only turn on if they detect movement. Plus, a lot of those sold in the market are solar-powered.

You can install them in dark areas and blind spots, as we as outside possible entry points. When a trespasser attempts to enter, and the lights turn on, it will give them the idea that someone aware of their presence turned it on.

Wireless home alarm systems

An alarm system helps detect if there is an invasion in your property. The system can send you a mobile notification whenever there is an unauthorized entry in one of the entry points of your property.

The system also has an alarm feature that will be activated whenever there is a breach. It can be in the form of a siren or flashing lights, which could startle whoever is trying to get inside and alert residents and neighbors.

Monitoring the come and go of people in your property is another benefit of installing the system. You can make sure that a maintenance crew or other service providers showed up on schedule. It keeps you in the loop of what’s happening in your property remotely.

Fake Cameras

Burglars and home invaders often can’t tell fake security cameras from the real ones. If your only purpose is to deter trespassers, then fake cameras could be enough because your tenants won’t have to worry about any invasion to their privacy. Just make sure you inform them that the cameras are fake.

Marketing Edge

Regardless of which security measure you use, when you publish your property listing on Padleads, adding the security features of your property could attract a lot of tenants who want to live in a safe home. Do not include fake cameras, though. You don’t want to give private information like that to everyone. Keep it exclusively between you and your tenants.