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HomeReal EstateWhen Packages Go Lacking, Can Tenants Examine the Surveillance Tapes?

When Packages Go Lacking, Can Tenants Examine the Surveillance Tapes?


Q: I’m a property supervisor for a rental constructing in Midtown East. In latest months, there was a rise within the disappearance of packages left by supply employees within the unattended foyer. (Supply persons are buzzed in all day, so it’s arduous to maintain monitor of who’s coming and going.) We’ve surveillance cameras in public areas, however they’re for the security of our tenants, to not monitor packages. However tenants have been asking to see the video footage to research the lacking packages. Am I allowed or obligated to share this footage with tenants? What are my duties?

A: You need to tackle a safety downside in your constructing, however sharing video footage with tenants is just not the answer. Individuals don’t have an expectation of privateness in a foyer, however additionally they don’t anticipate their landlord to share movies of them getting their packages. The request raises thorny points: How a lot of the tape do you share? What do you do with the knowledge you glean? And when you present one tenant video footage, what do you do when the following tenant asks for it?

“It’s a slippery slope,” mentioned Luise A. Barrack, head of the litigation division on the Manhattan regulation agency Rosenberg & Estis.


In brief, it’s not your job to research doable prison exercise. That’s what police are for. In the event you assume a criminal offense occurred within the constructing, or if tenants request entry to the video to assessment it, contact your native precinct for steering.

“Put it to the police division and say, ‘Hey, we’ve had numerous packages which have gone lacking, which we imagine are because of theft,’” Ms. Barrack mentioned. Allow them to let you know methods to proceed.

However because the property supervisor, you may make your constructing safer for the residents. Examine the locks on the outer door to ensure they latch correctly. Submit indicators within the foyer stating that the realm is monitored by video surveillance, which might deter thieves. Flow into a letter to tenants reminding them to gather packages promptly and to be aware of who they buzz into the constructing. Think about putting in a package deal locker, which would offer your tenants with one other layer of safety.

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