Is your home CCTV breaking the law?

In 2023, home security systems increased by nearly a third (30%) in the UK, and one in five Brits now own a video doorbell to protect their property.

Since a burglary occurred every 173 seconds in the UK during the year 2023/24, it is clear that Brits are taking home security more seriously than ever – but are they following the right protocols?

A 2021 court case involving home security cameras awarded a huge £100,000 worth of damages for the emotional distress caused by cameras heavily overlooking a property and the lack of transparency about the CCTV system.

Following the nuances around increasing video security around your property, broadband provider LightSpeed and its home security partner SimpliSafe have revealed the little-known rules around home security that owners could land themselves in hot water for not abiding by.

Not signposting your home CCTV

Alessandra Cerfogli, Product Director at LightSpeed, warns that home security cameras must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), which protect data and personal privacy.

“Suppose your home CCTV overlooks beyond your property boundaries, such as a public road and pathways that residents will be using. In that case, you need to signpost that you have a security camera – the same applies to even the most basic video doorbells.

“Failing to place clear signage for your CCTV could result in complaints to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) about privacy violations. In turn, you could be fined for not complying with GDPR laws.

“The more severe the breach, the bigger the fine you could receive so ensure that you have placed clear signage that warns residents of home security cameras in operation.”

CCTV overlooking neighbouring properties

If your home security cameras capture footage beyond your property’s boundary, you must consider the level of intrusion—even if there is nowhere you can position the cameras to prevent this.

Jonathan Wall, VP, UK Managing Director at SimpliSafe, says: “Try to avoid outdoor cameras looking over your neighbours’ premises. While some may find positioning outdoor cameras tricky, depending on the type of property, modern security devices like SimpliSafe's offer advanced features. With activity zones, you can fine-tune motion detection to ensure your camera only focuses on your property, keeping an eye on what matters most."

To respect the privacy of your neighbours, you must use your CCTV cameras responsibly. If the cameras pick up audio, consider turning off this feature to avoid capturing private conversations without a neighbour’s knowledge.

Consider whether 24/7 recording is necessary. Strategically activating cameras during peak burglary hours, such as between 10 am to 3 pm, can be more effective while respecting privacy.

To go even further, you can apply a blurring filter to the cameras, so your neighbour’s property isn’t visible in the footage.

Receiving a request to see the footage

GDPR and the DPA also give individuals the right to request access to any footage that home CCTV cameras capture of them. If you receive such a request, you must respond within 40 days. Not only can residents request access to the footage, but they also have the legal right to ask for footage of them to be deleted – if it doesn’t hinder the camera’s purpose of security or remove evidence being viewed in an ongoing investigation.

“If you don’t use your home CCTV responsibly, the situation could quickly escalate into neighbour disputes, should nearby residents feel harassed or intimidated by the presence of CCTV near their property”, says Shepherd, “if your cameras do become an issue, it’s best to try and resolve the issue informally and, if needed, show them the CCTV footage so they can see exactly what the cameras are capturing to give them peace of mind.”

About LightSpeed

LightSpeed is an independent, full fibre broadband network that offers industry-leading speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps. As the East and West Midlands’ leading and most trusted broadband provider, it’s bringing the power of Gigabit to parts of the UK that other providers have overlooked, with plans to connect 150,000 new premises in these regions and a target of 400,000 total homes & businesses by 2027.

Backed by investment partner Kompass Kapital, the brand is focused on building a portfolio of value-added services powered by its ultra-fast broadband, designed to enhance customers' in-home experiences, from security to smart home technologies.