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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours Ring doorbell

138 replies

Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 09:21

So I live in a block of flats and noticed earlier my neighbour has installed a Ring doorbell which directly faces my flat door. There’s a fire door between our flats so unless it’s open she won’t be recording my actual door all the time but as far as I know these doorbells record any motion they sense for 20/30 seconds? So she’s recording the communal close area whenever someone passes her door (which is very often because her flat is directly to the left of the main door) and I do have to walk past her door to get to the letterboxes or to take my bins out. She’ll inadvertently record anyone that comes to my flat thru the main door as well (so that’s everyone that visits me) and my son at primary school age will be recorded every time he goes to school and back. There is a back door to the flats that I can use but it means a detour round the car park to get to the letterbox or to go to the bin shed. Am I being unreasonable to want her to take the doorbell down?

OP posts:
LonelyFromCorona · 17/09/2020 09:34

@Mumz3

So I live in a block of flats and noticed earlier my neighbour has installed a Ring doorbell which directly faces my flat door. There’s a fire door between our flats so unless it’s open she won’t be recording my actual door all the time but as far as I know these doorbells record any motion they sense for 20/30 seconds? So she’s recording the communal close area whenever someone passes her door (which is very often because her flat is directly to the left of the main door) and I do have to walk past her door to get to the letterboxes or to take my bins out. She’ll inadvertently record anyone that comes to my flat thru the main door as well (so that’s everyone that visits me) and my son at primary school age will be recorded every time he goes to school and back. There is a back door to the flats that I can use but it means a detour round the car park to get to the letterbox or to go to the bin shed. Am I being unreasonable to want her to take the doorbell down?
www.fpra.org.uk/qa/cctv-data-protection

I found the above, see point 2.

I'd get in touch with the freeholder of the block. They have responsibility for shared hallways etc and may not take kindly to it.

tobedtoMNandfart · 17/09/2020 09:38

I'd like a Ring doorbell... but she is invading yours and your DS privacy. Speak to housing association/LL etc as applicable.
I wouldn't speak directly to her as she will clearly feel differently about it / take it personally and you will just fall out.

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 09:59

Yeah I’d like a Ring doorbell too as we have had a break in at a flat up stairs (so I can understand why she has installed one) but knowing what little I do about the law I thought it best not to as I’d be recording the common close area. We do have a housing association so I’ll phone and ask them for advice as I’ve had a run in with her before about an unrelated issue and it turned to an argument, although we do say Hi to each other now I avoid her if I can 😂

OP posts:
lunar1 · 17/09/2020 10:06

Mine isn't set to record, I can bring it up on the live view but not look back over old footage. That's the paid for subscription which records motion.

You can also set it so you determine the proximity that the sensor picks up, I make sure mine only does to the boundary of our drive, maybe she could set hers really short so you have to be at the door for it to register.

lunar1 · 17/09/2020 10:07

Just to ass, you can tell if the owner or a looking at a live view by the light on the doorbell, so you could know if she was actually sat watching you.

lunar1 · 17/09/2020 10:07

Add, not ass! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 10:20

Aw ok that’s actually good to know. So it could be that she’s only recording from when someone presses the doorbell? If she’s only recording people when they are actually pressing the doorbell at her door then that doesn’t bother me.

OP posts:
tara66 · 17/09/2020 10:22

In France this would not be allowed - i don't think - as you are only allowed to video your own property and your neighbour is videoing communal area. You can't for example put a security camera in France facing onto a road.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 17/09/2020 10:33

There's the flip side that it may one day be useful from your perspective that your door has been recorded

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 10:35

Yeah I’m sure it’s the same rules here. If she’s recording only when the doorbell is pressed then she’s still recording the common area which I don’t think she’s allowed to do but it wouldn’t bother me enough to complain about it if u get me 😂 it’s the thought that the motion sensor would capture most of the comings and goings from my flat that’s annoyed me.

OP posts:
BronwenFrideswide · 17/09/2020 10:36

@Mumz3

Aw ok that’s actually good to know. So it could be that she’s only recording from when someone presses the doorbell? If she’s only recording people when they are actually pressing the doorbell at her door then that doesn’t bother me.
You do need to ensure that that is what she is doing so you should still contact the Housing Association for clarification.
TweeBree · 17/09/2020 10:37

Our HA made our neighbour remove theirs. Definitely complain.

gingerwhinger0 · 17/09/2020 10:38

I can understand your concerns and I'm not too sure how I would feel about it really, but in truth we are being watched as soon as we step foot outside our homes, even indoors electronic devices are monitoring and capturing your activity.
Assuming that your comings and goings are fairly innocent, is it not helpful to have the ring door bell as an extra bit of security for yourself too, especially if the flat upstairs has been burgled.

Roundtoedshoes · 17/09/2020 10:41

Is there not an entry phone to the main block? Slightly perplexed as to why she even needs a ring doorbell if so. Ignore me if there isn’t!

Zilla1 · 17/09/2020 10:44

As PPs have said, contact the freeholder/LA/Housing Association. You may not want to speak to her but could she move the unit onto any wall 90 degrees across from her front door or onto the wall the security door is on so her front door is video-able but no one can see your front door?

Good luck.

Someonesayroadtrip · 17/09/2020 10:44

We have one. We are a detached house so no issues recording anyone else. We have two options though. First option as you described but it costs us additionally annually, I think it's something like £70 for that feature but I could be completely wrong.

Or option 2 is that it just brings up the screen when someone presses it, no recording at all. So nothing is stored and it's basically just an intercom with video.

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 10:47

My comings and goings are all innocent yes, thanks. I just object to a private person being able to record them and do with them what they like. I agree we are being watched all the time anyways but no I don’t feel like I should give up what little privacy we have left because 1 flat was broken into in the 10 years we’ve lived here. The main door is buzzer entry anyways so if it hadn’t been for someone letting in people they don’t know then the burglar wouldn’t have had access in the first place.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 17/09/2020 10:47

I don't think I'd like this at all. I mean, I'd literally only be walking out of the door and coming back in when I got home, but even so. Our next door have one as well, and even though it's a driveway, it picks us up walking past when I've parked my car (I have to park it down the road a little) and she will sometimes come round and knock for a chat saying oh I've just seen you get home. Their sitting room is round the back and they absolutely sit with the doorbell app open - they love it!

She isn't a bad person I just find it a bit suffocating sometimes that she knows whether we're in or not at all times haha.

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 10:48

Yes there is! It doesn’t have a camera but yes it’s a basic buzzer system and no one is let in unless u let them in 😂

OP posts:
Oddonetoday · 17/09/2020 10:51

You can set the sensor . I have done this so it just covers my immediate area outside my door. Sadly my neighbours car got broken into and they came to our door hoping I captured anything - I hadn’t I explained that I respected their privacy.

DilloDaf · 17/09/2020 10:54

I won't say YABU because everyone's different about "privacy issues" but it wouldn't bother me at all.
Anyone can see me and my visitors coming and going if they want to stand and watch, I don't see what difference it makes to have a camera recording us. Also it could be useful if there are dodgy cold-callers or attempted break ins.

Original poster
Mumz3 · 17/09/2020 10:55

Exactly. It’s intrusive that they know when you’re home or not! I’m hoping it is just the basic record when it’s pressed feature but how would anyone know 🤷🏻‍♀️ if she’s using the motion sense then I’ll literally be recorded every time I go to check the letterbox or put the bins out, my son going to school and back and any visitor that comes through the main door to my flat.

OP posts:
Nottherealslimshady · 17/09/2020 10:57

I just see that as benefits. I dont think you'll hesitate to ask for the footage if someone breaks into your flat. If you disappear then it will be invaluable information. So long as shes not a convicted burglar or anything I wouldn't be bothered.

LilyLongJohn · 17/09/2020 10:57

It could also be a good thing, in that anyone coming to your door who's uninvited will be spotted and recorded.

Privacy is a funny thing, what's good for one, isn't for another. You obviously aren't happy with it, wouldn't bother me.

Elderflower14 · 17/09/2020 11:00

My ds2 moved from a supported living house into his own flat last year... Due to his disabilities our family was concerned about him opening the door to just anybody so my sister generously bought him his Ring system... Its been fantastic... So good in fact that one morning his support worker turned up with a new haircut and her hood up.. Ds2 wouldn't open the door..She had to go back to the main house and text him!! 🤣 🤣 🤣