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  1. #1

    Default Can You Use Hidden Cameras in Your Apartment to Monitor Unauthorized Access

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

    Hello, I live in a large apartment complex in PA, and twice this week someone has entered my apartment and opened the fuse panel door in the entry hallway. I was not home either time this occurred.

    Typically management will notify tenants if a scheduled maintenance visit is pending; last week we were notified via flyers in the doors (everyone on the floor got a notice) that maintenance was going to be inspecting door hinges and plumbing. I was home when the man came and when he left he said someone would be replacing GFI switches in the kitchen in the coming weeks.

    On last Thursday morning, and last night (Saturday), I left the apartment to come home to find the fuse panel door open, and no notice of maintenance being there.

    i called security, and requested that a report be filed. A security man came to the apartment and took a statement, and assured me there would be follow up.

    I suppose my questions are as follows:

    1. Do landlords have authority to enter an apartment at any time, without notice?

    2. if not, what legal steps can I take to let management know I am serious about holding them accountable?

    3. Alternate theory: suppose (unlikely) that someone other than maintenance or management is accessing my apartment without my permission? I do not think there is anyone else with a key to this place but myself and the apartment community, but you never know. if it ends up not being maintenance, I can always request that the locks be changed.

    4. Hidden cameras in apartment: can I install and operate a hidden camera in my apartment that is motion operated to film whoever is coming in? would this be legal if i end up filming the maintenance staff coming in if they have the authority to do so? or would it only be legal if it was a totally unauthorized person who somehow got a copy of my key?

    Thanks for your time and thoughts on this matter. other than this issue living at this apartment is great and I don't want problems -

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Can You Use Hidden Cameras in Your Apartment to Monitor Unauthorized Access

    Read this guide:

    https://books.google.com/books?id=Sp...lities&f=false

    There are more recent editions online for a price if you google them but the statute has been the same for years.

    Study the statute, too:

    https://www.thelpa.com/PA_landlord_tenant_act.pdf

    Between the two, you'll learn everything you need to know about landlord tenant law in PA.

    As for question 4, yes, it's legal to use hidden video cameras in your apartment to see who is coming in and out (no matter who they are) as long as you don't put them in bedrooms and bathrooms where people are entitled to privacy.

    As for legal steps, legal steps involve going to court and getting an injunction against the landlord for the objectionable behavior.

    Anything else is just chest beating.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Behind a Desk
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    98,846

    Default Re: Can You Use Hidden Cameras in Your Apartment to Monitor Unauthorized Access

    Of course you can use security cameras in your own home. To make sure that you don't run afoul of the law, you would want to avoid recording audio (you need permission from other people to record them) and would not want to have cameras recording (for example) private bathroom activities or residents or guests changing their clothes.

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