I feel that my landlord has been spying on me. I noticed that some things were moved around in my home, after I had been gone for a while. Is it legal for a landlord to put a hidden camera in their tenant' home?
2007-01-01 15:34:05 · 22 answers · asked by my3babez 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No it is not legal. It is also illegal for the landlord to enter your apartment with out giving you notice. Are you sure their aren't other issues here? Are you sure you aren't imagining things, thinking people are monitoring you and moving things around while you are gone is a sign of schizophrenia.
2007-01-01 15:40:04 · answer #1 · answered by Daz2020 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
No, this doesn't sound legal to me. As a tenant (who I assume is keeping current on paying rent and complying with your terms of the lease?), you have legal right to occupy the house and a reasonable expectation of privacy therein. It's the same reason that a landlord is required to provide advance notice (usually 24 hours) before entering for any non-emergency. Take down or disconnect the camera if you can find it, then move out. Or have some fun with it; try goosestepping around the kitchen while wearing a white hood and swastika, or pretend to run a meth lab while actually baking lemon squares.
2016-03-29 04:00:29 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not legal unless you specificly agree to it. Being a "hidden" camera I am guessing you did not want or know about it.
This is an invasion of privacy.
If stuff was moved, it is possible he was getting in and looking around and not with a camera but in person. Most states have rules and there are nationwide rules about renter privacy. Just like the landlord is not allowed to enter you home without prior consent AND notice. Some states will not allow them to enter without you being present.
Confronting him might not work well, it might not be him doing it. Maybe do some "counter" survalliance? get a hidden cam and recorder of your own, they are pretty cheap, face it towards the front door, or intersection he needs to go thru if he comes thru either front or rear door. If you have evidence he is doing it, call the police or confront him with a copy of the video. But be ready for him to possibly try to evict you....(lot of legal to try to stay there even if he did not have the right to do it, check with local renter attorney).
2007-01-01 15:53:21 · answer #3 · answered by TheHangedFrog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your State laws. Some states allow it, but with strict guidelines that must be followed. Check with your local Public Safety/Police/Sheriff's Office and ask them.
In most cases where it is permitted, the landlord must have probable cause to put a camera in a home without the tenant's knowledge.
On th other hand, if you think your landlord is entering your home without proper notice, there are no laws that prevent YOU from putting a camera in to catch him/her in the act. You can recover damages for that, not to mention force him/her to break your lease so that you may move elsewhere.
2007-01-01 15:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Brandon W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's illegal. It's only legal if the landlord tells their tenants about the camera.
2007-01-01 15:44:04 · answer #5 · answered by starry_nite@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not only is it illegal but if caught he could go to jail for a very Long time. but you would have to prove your landlord put it there. I worked at a place that the owner was caught spying thru a hole he made in the wall between his office and the girls bathroom. a woman got suspicious and looked close in the mirror and found the hole, he was tried and convicted and went to jail for 7 yrs.
2007-01-01 15:43:20 · answer #6 · answered by thepopeyebob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is highly illegal and scary and disgusting!
Step 1: Try to find that camera. There is equipment you can buy to locate electronic surveillance.
Step 2: Call the police immediately so he cannot remove the camera.
Step 3: Sue his *** off! Own that rental property and any others he has!
Keep us posted if you find out anything!
2007-01-01 15:48:52 · answer #7 · answered by Jamie R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not legal. You can put one inside your own house, but no one else can legally do that. If you can find the camera, call the Police, let them have it. File charges on him, then after he is found guilty, sue his pants off.
2007-01-01 15:38:30 · answer #8 · answered by m c 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
no it is definately not legal. but you can put a hidden camera in your house if you think someone has been sneaking around when you're not there. sounds creepy. ever see the movie Sliver?
2007-01-01 15:44:08 · answer #9 · answered by QandA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! It's called invasion of privacy. Just because you rent from him, you do not give up your right to privacy. If he did that, he's a worthless scumbag. Go to legal services and sue him, but you'll need proof.
2007-01-01 15:43:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋