Neighbour’s security cameras overlooking bedroom, bathroom and garden: any advice?

[Julysunshineishere]

Has anyone experience of being overlooked by their neighbours security cameras?

Our neighbour has installed cameras which record visual and audio in the soffits of his detached house. One of the cameras is directly opposite my daughter's bedroom window, and an other is 16ft directly across from our bathroom window. (I have hung voiles in her bedroom for privacy, but frustrated I've had to do this! We already had a blind for nighttime, she just felt 'spied on').

I feel I'm being watched constantly daily and the neighbour refuses to show me the camera footage, and denies it records audio. It isn't possible to converse with him, we have tried.

I have spoken to a local supplier of the make and model of the camera that is installed and it is a top of the range camera for audio and image.

Having tried to speak to the neighbour and being completely dismissed I just feel like I have to accept the unwanted intrusion into my daily life.

He has also installed sensor lights on the front of his house that light up as soon as I go onto my drive and get in and out of my car or go to my gate.

The legal department of my home insurance say that other than asking him to show me footage , which he won't, I can write a letter requesting any footage of myself and family as he has a responsibility to produce it. I doubt he will do this as it relies upon the neighbour being responsible and honest about what he is recording.
I'm looking into installing a pergola to give us privacy in our garden, as the rear camera is directly over our patio. I did ask that a camera at the rear was repositioned to not look directly onto our property, I was told it focused purely upon his gate and vehicle and he walked away.

We live in an area that, thankfully hasn't a high crime rate and no history of burglaries or car break ins etc.

Any suggestions? Moving isn't an option!
I love my home, I just don't love feeling constantly watched and my comings and goings illuminated at night and captured 24/7.

noodlebugz

Unfortunately I don't think the cameras are that sensitive. We got them simply to see where dog was and look at body language and where he was facing when we heard him bark.

I suspect the neighbour thinks we have it on cameras we don't, I was in the garden sat lower down and saw what happened.

If you are looking for screening Google instant hedging. Sellers often have 6ft plants ready to be planted some in 1m wide ready to plant bags.

I know you are treading carefully but if I thought some man had a camera pointed at my child's bedroom window I would be talking to the police for advice.

Your letter asking for the footage means he could easily apply the restrictive filter that narrows the angle of the camera and give you this image to show he isn't recording your daughter's bedroom window and then just remove the filter. The police showing up and asking to see the footage would mean he doesn't have chance to do that if he is doing that. I wouldn't be taking chances.

You know with your Ring doorbell you can exclude areas so they don't trigger the camera.

In the meantime, try applying the one-sided film that lets the householder see out but has a mirror effect on the other side? You shouldn't have to do this though. I know these cameras have many uses and make people feel safer, but they are such an invasion of privacy at the same time. I was always under the impression that it was against the law to train a camera over a neighbour's back garden though.

We have a security company and also have top range cameras around our property. There is only one camera that covers our side entrance that also overlooks the neighbours side entrance and window. The entrance and window have been blacked out purposely for their privacy. Our cameras may look like they overlook their property, but they honestly don’t. However, I would have no issue showing the images of the live camera footage to the neighbours should they ask to see it. It’s easily done as it’s an app on my phone.

Definitely will be getting some one way film onto the windows at the back of the house as I've come home tonight to find a blink camera is now installed above his garage door and next to the area where we have been sitting this weekend away from the soffit cameras 🤦🏼‍♂️ having had a quick Google, also has the potential to look directly into our kitchen window (143degrees field of vision) and has crisp two way audio recording too! (Our conversations are honestly not that interesting! Just don't like thought of that area being under such close monitoring too.)

Can anyone tell me, if you have the one way film on, have you ever removed it and was it easy? When the pergola and plants obscure his views I'd like to take it down as it's nice to communicate with family in the garden when we are pottering.

Pigwig10
Thanks. That's my thoughts. It's his absolute reluctance to show me his views that makes me believe he's capturing what he shouldn't be. He's been very arrogant and high handed in communication regarding a boundary responsibility and other minor things over the years.

Really could do without the hassle. Just want to be able to communicate sensibly and calmly about any issues. I realise that's not an option with him unfortunately.

Why not purchase (or hire) from a builder's supply company some temporary powerful floodlights. Put them in a position that is directly in line with his cameras and have them on a timer to turn on every night: Maybe when he is asleep, or when you think it would be most inconvenient for him.

In the meantime I think I'd be tempted to get a few very cheap white t-shirts and write slogans on the back of them in thick marker, such as 'nosy twat' or 'peeping tom', and wear them when when you are in your garden. He can't possibly comment, because he can't see you, right?

DozyCrow · Today 17:34
In the meantime I think I'd be tempted to get a few very cheap white t-shirts and write slogans on the back of them in thick marker, such as 'nosy twat' or 'peeping tom', and wear them when when you are in your garden. He can't possibly comment, because he can't see you, right?

🤣 If I didn't think it would inflame the situation!

Will think about it though as I walk past!

The fact he has a camera recording into your daughters bedroom is say the police have plenty of reason to tell them to move it!!!

Ive used window film. There are a few times - one is non-adhesive - spray a soap solution into place whilst you adjust it into position and it just sticks in place with static. Also an adhesive version - more soap and water solution to move it around when applying it until its fixed into position. Whilst fixing mine (the adhesive version) I made a mistake and had to pull off one and start over. It came off fine. So yes easy to remove when no longer needed.

It sounds like he is purposefully trying to get under your skin for his own amusement with the additional cameras. He also seems wierdly hellbent on recording you. Make sure you get photos of his cameras showing direction in relation to your property in case he later moves them. Get everything in place to obscure, deflect, disguise and block his views and sounds.

Motive - other than the whole power and control motive generally, as he is doing this now, during good weather, in the places you go into the garden - I wonder if he is trying to keep you out of the garden by applying pressure and discomfort to the garden hoping you will just stay indoors? If this is the plan its all the more reason to not yield and just get bigger wind chimes. NB there are some websites that sell huge and very loud windchimes. Or get a very large portable speaker out there. You can counter all of his moves. Yes you shouldnt have to, but he hasnt given you much choice.

Wooky073
Thanks for the information on the window film.

I really don't understand his behaviour or possible motives. It's all so unnecessary. I think it's definitely about control. When I've had to speak to him regarding things to do with our properties, he really doesn't like it if I disagree with him or what he had proposed.

The dismissive attitude when asked a direct question about his cameras really showed me that he's probably got something to hide. I don't know what he finds so interesting about us, we lead a very boring life!!

Just annoying that it costs money to maintain our privacy, something which everyone is entitled to in their back garden.
I certainly won't be letting him dictate how we enjoy our garden. We have worked hard to make our house a home, and I'm not letting him control us.

Frustrating that there are no stricter laws on what is in effect spying on neighbours. Very strange behaviour from him.

I wonder why would his wife allow him to have full view of yours unless she does not know the full extent he has them set up to view.

He sounds like a misogynist. I don’t think you’ve mentioned whether your partner is male or female (not our business either) but if they’re male, does your neighbour shut him down in the same way?

We had a fairly difficult guy next door to us for a while. Also a builder and also someone who didn’t like it when we objected to him intruding on our boundary (not cameras; in his case it was a lean to he wanted to extend over the boundary). It was a relief when he and his wife moved. There are few things worse than shitty neighbours.

PaterPower
I agree . The neighbour is a little better with my husband, his arrogance is not as quick to show itself! He's just a man who likes to do what he wants and get his own way, and doesn't like it when we don't roll over. He has a tendency to talk down to me more, that's his issue.

Refuse to give into such daftness. I have rearranged the parasol and repositioned some of our climbing plants. All this sun and they are thriving 😊

My god - more cameras. This man is escalating the situation.

1. Get the nosey t* t shirts

2. Begin calling one another by highly embarrassing slightly innuendo filled pet names.

3. Grt a big f off bb gun and start your target practice shooting those f ing cameras down.

4. Ask nice neighbours when they’re away, explain the situation and plan as many outrageous and annoying activities as possible.

Have you sent the ICO letter yet - recorded delivery or whatever so he can’t say he doesn’t have it?

Given all the expense he’s causing can you just retaliate with equally intrusive cameras in the exact same spots as all areas of his property, drive & garden & just see what he does? I know you don’t want them on your soffits but until he gets a taste of what it feels like it sounds like he’s only going to carry on. Surely if it results in a camera amnesty you can take them down & your soffits won’t be affected?
I’d absolutely hate it too though - it’s horribly intrusive & selfish.

I really don’t think the police or SS can ignore the suggestion that his camera is aimed at your dd’s window. That would surely warrent a request by officials to look at what he can see?

It’s a police safeguarding concern as opposed to a civil matter.

Namastyay
I understand what you're saying, however I hate feeling like Big Brother is watching me all the time, so no more cameras from on high. It wouldn't result in a camera amnesty as that would require us both to have a similar opinion on cameras and want to reach an agreement. He has shown in the past, over pretty straightforward things to do with our properties, ie arranging contractors and safe working practices, that he is completely unwilling to do things that mean any deviation from his wishes.

He has shown a repeated disregard for us and an inability to consider how his actions effect us and our property, so I feel no agreement regarding cameras, as you suggested would be possible.

As others have suggested, I can contact police to advise and request information from our data controller.

As he seems intent of provoking us and persistent in increasing the surveillance potential, I would rather do all I can to prevent his vision and ignore him as much as possible. If he then does something then we can act accordingly, but it's wasted energy trying to engage with him.

@Julysunshineishere true - was prob being a bit optimistic - he’s not going to admit to any wrongdoing is he & say ok let’s take them down. Sounds like the best plan & as you say minimal contact. It’s so unfair people get to do this though. Glad there are some options for protection /privacy (to a degree) though.

I know others have talked about torches and mirrors but if you could rig up a light on your parasol to reflect light back at the camera to overexpose it and make it next to useless then he might reconsider. Also, sounds a bit MI5 but you can buy audio jammers that block out sound. I would basically a) shine light/reflect light at his cameras so as to render them useless and b) jam the audio so I knew my conversations were private. You can direct light with pin point accuracy (laser pens) so perhaps you could direct one straight at his camera from your property?

The laser pen is a very good idea and not so intrusive in use for you. Not sure about the sound jammer, but when you are outside maybe a bit of background music or slight noise so that conversations are not overheard.

But you really must contact the Police about the camera pointing directly to any person's bedroom or toilet. That is certainly an invasion of privacy.

Surely it’s a safeguarding issue if it’s pointed towards your child’s bedroom. Have you told the police this? @Julysunshineishere