Can a Tenant Touch the Landlord's Property in a Non-Lease Area

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of:Maryland

I recently installed security cameras in the basement that i'm occupying. The 1st floor was leased to a couple. Last night one of them came downstairs and covered the security camera with a blanket. The camera was in my living room and not precisely hidden. I have a video which shows the tenant approching the cameraand covering with the blanket. Can I get them in trouble?

So is there not a secure door that separates your basement apartment from the rest of the house? Are there amenities like a washer and dryer in the basement that the first floor tenants use? Why did you install the cameras in the first place? Are things going missing or you are just paranoid? Have you talked to them and asked them why they covered your camera?

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Quoting milano9891

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Can I get them in trouble?

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Like how? Get them arrested, tarred and feathered, rode out of town on a rail, sue them, take their money?

Have you been having problems with this tenant? They with you?

In addition to Budwad's questions, what's your goal here?

I placed the cameras in my basement, which i occupy. There is a door separating the 1st floor and the basement. They have been breaking the lease terms regarding laundry use and i have found the car i have in storage in a recently-moved position. The key was missing fron the holder in my basement. So this is more regarding the tenants taking stuff, being in places that there are not supposed to be at (found my dorm door wide open) and of course monitoring my laundry use. All cameras are in my property space (basement).

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Quoting milano9891

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The 1st floor was leased to a couple.

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Isn't the proper statement, "I leased the first floor to a couple"?

How much time is left on their lease?

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Quoting milano9891

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Last night one of them came downstairs and covered the security camera with a blanket.

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You were asked,

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Quoting budwad

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So is there not a secure door that separates your basement apartment from the rest of the house?

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You indicated that there is a door, but provided no explanation as to why you don't lock it.

You were asked,

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Quoting budwad

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Are there amenities like a washer and dryer in the basement that the first floor tenants use?

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You chose not to answer.

You were asked,

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Quoting budwad

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Have you talked to them and asked them why they covered your camera?

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You chose not to answer that question, either, so I'll infer that your answers would be "no" and "no".

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Quoting milano9891

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They have been breaking the lease terms regarding laundry use....

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I can't read the lease from here, so you will need to elaborate. More than that, are you confirming budwad's apparent suspicion that the basement is in fact not an area that is exclusive to you, and that it is in fact necessary for them to cross through your 'living room' to reach the laundry facilities? If so, the tenants have every right to pass through the room. If that is the case you don't want them to be able to access an area that you have, in fact, made into at least a limited common area, you can consider installing an upstairs laundry or, when you're renting to your next tenants, excluding the downstairs laundry facilities (and anything else in the basement) from the amenities promised by the lease.

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Quoting milano9891

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...and i have found the car i have in storage in a recently-moved position.

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Now you're sounding paranoid.

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Quoting milano9891

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The key was missing fron the holder in my basement.

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Do you believe that proves that they took the keys, found the storage location of your vehicle and moved it a couple of inches, apparently to mess with your mind?

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Quoting milano9891

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...being in places that there are not supposed to be at (found my dorm door wide open)

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You have a dorm room in the basement of your house?

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Quoting milano9891

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...and of course monitoring my laundry use.

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How are they monitoring you?

Do you own the property?

Do you lease part of the property to the tenants? Written lease?

Or do you rent from the owner of the property?

And do they rent from the owner of the property on a separate agreement?

You mention "dorm door" which adds confusion to the issue because "dorm" often implies people sharing a dwelling with separate leases with the owner of the dwelling.

Please clarify.

Also advise whether you are in Baltimore or not as Baltimore has some additional requirements from the Maryland statutes.

The camera issue was this morning and they havent answered yet. The car issue was because they didnt have car so they kept on bugging me to use my personal vehicle, which i refuse. Of course i don't have proof that it happened so thats why i placed the cameras (no, im not paranoid). The laundry room is right by the stairs coming from the 1st floor. The camera is placed in my living room and overseeing the laundry room. They are not authorized to go anywhere inside the basement but the laundry room once a week.

Please re-read all of our questions and answer the ones that you ignored.

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Quoting adjusterjack

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Do you own the property?

Do you lease part of the property to the tenants? Written lease?

Or do you rent from the owner of the property?

And do they rent from the owner of the property on a separate agreement?

You mention "dorm door" which adds confusion to the issue because "dorm" often implies people sharing a dwelling with separate leases with the owner of the dwelling.

Please clarify.

Also advise whether you are in Baltimore or not as Baltimore has some additional requirements from the Maryland statutes.

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I do own the property. Written lease terms with contract.
I live in Frederick county. Sorry i must clarify the house is a rancher type. Upper floor and basement. I rent the upper level only. There is no dorm room, just a regular room where i sleep.

If you want to monitor your tenants when they're in areas of the home to which you concede they have lawful access, you had best find tenants who don't mind being monitored. Covering your camera is not a material breach of the lease. You may of course opt not to renew their lease when it expires but, again, make sure you comply with any notice requirements that apply due to the language of the lease or laws of your state.