Q: I stay in a six-story rental constructing in Washington Heights, with 5 residences per flooring. My neighbor throughout the corridor put in a Ring digital camera that captures your entire flooring. It faces my residence instantly, offering a transparent view inside each time I open the door. Apart from the truth that it’s uncomfortable figuring out that every one my comings and goings are being recorded, I ponder if that is authorized. What can I do about it?
A: Your neighbor doesn’t have the correct to position something within the hallway, together with a door digital camera, with out the owner’s consent. It’s unlikely that your landlord has given the neighbor permission to do that as a result of landlords typically don’t need tenants damaging the partitions or recording what’s occurring within the hallways.
“I’ve by no means heard of a landlord consenting to a digital camera,” mentioned David E. Frazer, a lawyer who represents tenants. “It creates hassle and it probably damages partitions and ceilings.”
Inform your landlord in regards to the cameras, expressing your concern for the constructing and the partitions. Optimistically, that can clear up the issue. If, nonetheless, the owner decides to not become involved, your remaining choices are restricted, as a result of the presence of a digital camera in a typical hallway just isn’t unlawful.
As a tenant, you shouldn’t have the presumption of privateness in frequent areas of buildings, like hallways, elevators and lobbies. That lack of privateness extends to the world inside your residence that’s seen if you open the door. So whereas your neighbor might not be allowed to put in a digital camera and level it instantly at your door, your landlord can. “The courts have held that the owner has a proper to place a digital camera within the hallway and even disguise it,” Mr. Frazer mentioned.
If the owner doesn’t order your neighbor to take away the digital camera, your solely recourse can be to talk along with your neighbor instantly. Discuss to the neighbor, should you can, and ask if they might, on the very least, reposition the digital camera away out of your door.
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