Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
I am a renter in a duplex and notice that the other duplex tenant (here in California)
has violated the lease many times by smoking on the property, double parking
and making noise that affects us. Can I install a security camera to monitor
our outside rental and the street?
I asked the property manager if I could install the cameras and he said
that California law prohibits renters from installing security cameras
on the outside of the property. He said I could install it inside the
rental (windows).
1 Answer from Attorneys
Installing and using a security camera is "legal" provided, of course, that the method of attachment doesn't violate some term of your lease regarding improving or modifying the leased structure without approval. However, the way in which you use any pictures taken by the camera might possibly become someone's grounds for a private lawsuit for invasion of privacy or some similar tort. So, two areas for moderate caution.