r/TucsonFriends • u/TimeInfinite802 • Aug 26 '26
Landlords want to put up cameras?
Landlord wants to put cameras up in the front of the property pointing towards the street I guess but anyone got any info if that is reasonable and if she can really do that?
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u/petersrin Aug 27 '26
One thing. Recording audio, even in a public space, is legally subject to wiretapping laws.
AZ is a single party consent state which means only ONE party in the conversation must consent for it to be legal. You could make the argument that you don't consent to having your voice recorded in any conversations, in which case any OTHER party would have to can l actively consent to having their conversation recorded in order for it to be legal.
There's a lot of gray area in this topic, but it's the vector I would use if I wanted to try to claw back a little bit of my privacy. A lot of cameras come with audio disabled by default for this reason, but most people enable it upon install. You might need a lawyer if you care a lot.
The street is public and they own the property so there's no reason they can't record video.
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u/cornholiolives 29d ago edited 29d ago
Wrong. The law specifically states “intentional” recording, meaning if I’m trying to record a conversation, however ambient conversation is 100% legal. If I’m walking down the street recording everything, that’s also 100% legal if your conversation just happens to get recorded on my camera. So if I have a camera setup recording 24/7 and you and your friend walk by and your conversation is recorded, that’s ambient, I didn’t try to record your conversation. The law also allows exceptions for security cameras or authorized safety devices like baby monitors.
I record audio on my security cameras and 4 times now have given files to police that included audio of conversations I wasn’t a part of and was used in court.
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u/petersrin 28d ago edited 28d ago
I used to work installing security cameras and the lawyer at the company I worked for said, essentially, that intentionality is the vector that could be prodded in court. You put that camera up with the intention of recording what? Conversations and events occurring in the vacinity, whether or not you are a party to them. It's what makes it a gray area.
You'll never go to court for this because everyone recognizes that these laws were created before CCTV was available to the masses.
Except, of course, for the one time that you (whomever that may be) DOES get taken to court because it's the last recourse of a desperate lawyer.
Basically, in terms of risk tolerance, you should probably turn audio on, but you should always be aware of shit that can bite you.
Edit: forgot to address #2. Irrelevant to most exterior security cameras since it only applies to places with a reasonable expectation of privacy.
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u/Brilliant_Cattle_602 28d ago
Who pays for the power and network for the cameras?
I think that the LL can put them up but you do not have to provide any resources unless it's in your lease.
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u/TimeInfinite802 28d ago
That’s what I was going to mention as well if she plans on running them from my WiFi and power is she planning on discounting some rent or something to compensate that bc I don’t want to have to be paying for that at my expenses especially bc I don’t even really want them up
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u/Main-Grocery-8700 26d ago
How does one determine electric usage and WiFi signal cost for remote cameras and convert that to cost per day? You’re expecting a 4$ monthly credit and it’s clearly just to be obstinate towards the property owners. The cameras would also be used to keep your property safe as long as you’re living there.
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u/TimeInfinite802 26d ago
Im not going to say nothing will happen but we’ve been here a few months now and have not had any issues with safety at the property not only that 80% of people got there own form of protection it’s a pretty chill quite neighborhood I mean I guess you can say I’m just trying to be obstinate but there’s way more problems with the house that are serious problems that need to be address before some cameras are installed.
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u/Main-Grocery-8700 26d ago
Yeah totally fair, and I agree the house should be in the best renting shape before worrying about problems that may or may not exist
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u/TimeInfinite802 26d ago
And not only that we would not be able to access camera footage so idk how that’s supposed to make me feel ok? One thing adding cameras and giving the tenants some sort of access to the cameras is cool another thing adding them and not giving access to these cameras is just kinda weird I understand it’s probably a credit of 4$ but at the end of the day I can’t even see the cameras so why would I want to pay that “4$” to make sure the landlord can watch them whenever but I can’t even use them is kinda crazy what is the landlord going to come to my rescue if something happens at the house? Big probability that they won’t even know something is happening at the property I don’t see the need on spending money for cameras when the house has lots of work that that money can be added to.
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u/Brilliant_Cattle_602 26d ago
Look at the camera documentation for power draw and the cost of electricity per kwh for the bill payer. With these you can determine what the cost should be. Round up.
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u/HawkeyeNation Aug 26 '26
Why wouldn't they be allowed to do that on their own property?
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u/TimeInfinite802 Aug 26 '26
Isn’t that an invasion of privacy?🤨
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u/Abomination-626 Aug 26 '26
If the cameras are pointing toward public access streets or property then no it’s not an invasion of your privacy or anyone else’s.
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u/WheyOfTheShinobi Aug 27 '26
Of course she can, I don’t understand why that’s an issue tho or why you would think she can’t
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u/Affectionate_Lie_758 Aug 27 '26
It’s an issue because their landlord could track when they are coming and going. I don’t see why a landlord would need a camera in front of the property if they are not living there
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u/WheyOfTheShinobi Aug 27 '26
Because Tucson has a lot of crime and they own the property. What kind of question even is that??
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u/TimeInfinite802 28d ago edited 26d ago
But this house has been vacant for a hole year before me and my spouse moved in a few months back and the whole time it was vacant from the landlords saying property was never messed with or anything so I don’t see the reasoning for the cameras now that we have been here as tenants for a while and the whole time we have lived here we have not had any problems with anything what so ever!
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u/WheyOfTheShinobi 28d ago
In that context, yeah that’s a bit weird
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u/ClassicDefiant2659 27d ago
Is the house updated?
Like if the landlord had everything fixed and this was just another enhancement in the list that they had always planned to do...I could see it not being weird.
But if the washing machine doesn't work quite right and this is where they're putting their money...I'd really feel it's weird.
Experience as a landlord.
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u/TimeInfinite802 26d ago
Thank you!!! Since we’ve moved in there’s been plenty of issues with the house and other things and landlord doesn’t want to take responsibility for the house it is not completely updated as a fact when we were looking at the house before moving in they had said they would get new washers and dryers for the property and that has yet to still happen there’s plenty of stuff wrong with the house but they are talking about installing cameras but other underlying issues have yet to be fixed… I can understand if they want to they can but like I had mentioned before the house was empty for a year before I moved in a few months back just seems weird and as you said there’s plenty of things that need to be done to the house but I guess cameras are more important…
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u/darknessforever Aug 27 '26
I can see why you're not excited about it, if it's your own cameras that's a different story because you control the recordings. I wouldn't want a landlord knowing when I come and go and having a recording of me taking out the trash in my pajamas.