Camera in rented room (share accomodation)

Att vara en hest

Hello Boards,

I'm renting a room in an apartment sharing with 3 other people, I recently found that my room looked like someone had been in there while I was away (some things were moved it appears, I have a carpet that makes marks if an object has been there for a long time and I saw markings indicating that a box had been moved).

At least one of my flatmates is a bit of a suspicious type so I do suspect him but don't really have any evidence.

I'm thinking about setting up a camera in my room, note that the camera will only film a small area of my room which anyone enters will pass through. The camera I have in mind has motion detection and will send me a notification + images as soon as the person enters the room.

Just looking to know, are there any legal concerns with this setup? I'm guessing not since I'm only filming within my room and not in a common area.

I would lock the door but the lock is broken and as I'm travelling very soon I have no time to get that fixed before I have to leave.

Bonus question: What can I do with footage if I do catch someone going in to my room? As far as I'm aware nothing has been stolen, it just looks like some snooping going on but I also fear that someone may let a friend stay in my room while I'm away on travels.

MarkR

Att vara en hest wrote: »

Hello Boards,

I'm renting a room in an apartment sharing with 3 other people, I recently found that my room looked like someone had been in there while I was away (some things were moved it appears, I have a carpet that makes marks if an object has been there for a long time and I saw markings indicating that a box had been moved).

At least one of my flatmates is a bit of a suspicious type so I do suspect him but don't really have any evidence.

I'm thinking about setting up a camera in my room, note that the camera will only film a small area of my room which anyone enters will pass through. The camera I have in mind has motion detection and will send me a notification + images as soon as the person enters the room.

Just looking to know, are there any legal concerns with this setup? I'm guessing not since I'm only filming within my room and not in a common area.

I would lock the door but the lock is broken and as I'm travelling very soon I have no time to get that fixed before I have to leave.

Bonus question: What can I do with footage if I do catch someone going in to my room? As far as I'm aware nothing has been stolen, it just looks like some snooping going on but I also fear that someone may let a friend stay in my room while I'm away on travels.

Your room, you can record what you want. Before you go down the CCTV route, I'd be having a frank conversation with your flatmates about boundaries.

Att vara en hest

MarkR wrote: »

Your room, you can record what you want. Before you go down the CCTV route, I'd be having a frank conversation with your flatmates about boundaries.

Thank you for the reply, I've not interacted too much with this person as we're rarely here at the same time and it was only recently I started suspecting someone is entering my room. Also I can't say that it's this person 100% so I'd like to just catch whoever it is "in the act".

Once I have some evidence I have no problems talking the person in question myself but I'd like to know if I have any legal ground to take action as well.

MarkR

I don't think you'll get satisfaction legally. Would be a civil matter really, waste of time and money. Tell them you know someone has been in your room, and you don't want it to happen again.

You can set up an old phone to record I'm sure, or get an IP camera or something if you REALLY want, but going to the gardai to say someone went into your room? Meh.

Get a CCTV camera sticker, stick it on your door.

Soilse

Can you install a door lock screwfix. Ie the camera route sounds like it could go belly up if your housemates found out even if only in your own room

_Brian

Lock your door?

Pistachio19

If you're going to be away I'd make time to put a lock on the door instead of the cctv. Not much you can do if you get a notification when you're away and they are letting someone sleep in your bed. At least if it's locked you can relax knowing they can't get in.

Att vara en hest

Thanks all, I'll try to arrange the lock to be fixed but also I'd like to catch them red handed so I can talk to them about it

granturismo

You can always set up the camera in your room, as a security measure in case you are burglarised. Simple.