Antisocial behaviour

Residential CCTV & Video Door Bells

Guidance for Installing CCTV and Video Doorbells at Home

Introduction

The council does not have a guide or policy for residents on CCTV. However the information below provides practical guidance for residents who want to consider installation of domestic CCTV or video doorbells.

1. Basic Guidance for Home CCTV

Have a clear reason

Only install CCTV for a genuine purpose such as home security.

Use it responsibly

  • Do not film private spaces that are not part of your property.
  • Keep your equipment visible, and display clear signs so people know they may be recorded.
  • Tell neighbours why CCTV is being installed — to help avoid misunderstandings or complaints.

Make signage visible

Anyone who enters an area covered by CCTV should be able to see a sign before.
Many systems include signs, and printable versions are widely available online.

Keep your footage secure

Store recordings safely and ensure only authorised people can access them.

2. Other Considerations

Permissions for Council or Hjaltland properties

If you live in a Council or Hjaltland Housing Association home, you may need written permission before installing CCTV.
Some tenancy agreements require approval for any alterations to the property.

(Contact Housing – Shetland Islands Council)

(Contact Us | Hjaltland Housing Association) (External Link)

Planning permission

If the camera is mounted on the outside of your home, planning permission may be required. Contact Planning if you are unsure they can also advice on the angle of your CCTV.
(Planning Enforcement – Shetland Islands Council)

Shared or public areas

Filming your own property is generally not an issue.
However, recording:

  • shared paths,
  • communal areas,
  • or spaces you do not own
    can raise privacy concerns and may cause complaints.

CCTV can feel intrusive even in places that are normally visible to the public.

3. Video Doorbells

Video doorbells function like CCTV because they record both audio and video.
You can reduce their impact on others by following these steps:

Install carefully

  • Angle the camera to avoid capturing neighbouring property or public areas.
  • Use privacy zones or masking tools to limit what is recorded.

Use clear signage

Let visitors know a video doorbell is in use.

Manage expectations

Consider adding information such as whether the doorbell will be answered or whether callers should leave a message.

Use it legally and securely

  • Have a clear purpose for recording.
  • Do not share footage unless you are legally required to.
  • Delete footage when it is no longer needed.
  • Protect the system with strong passwords and two‑factor authentication.

Minimise unnecessary recording

  • Use motion detection rather than continuous recording.
  • Adjust settings to reduce false triggers (e.g., birds, pets, weather).
  • Set automatic deletion (e.g., every 30 days or more frequently if not needed).

4. Domestic Purpose Exemption

You may be exempt from data protection law if your device only records:

  • your front door,
  • your driveway,
  • or your private garden.

However, the exemption does not apply if your system records:

  • shared communal areas (e.g., flats),
  • pavements or roads,
  • neighbours’ homes or land.

Motion detection within your boundary may help, but does not automatically qualify you for the exemption.

5. Reducing Conflict and Reassuring Neighbours

6. Further Information and Useful Links

Using your CCTV in a Responsible & Proper Manner - ASB HELP:
https://asbhelp.co.uk/gathering-evidence/ (External Link)

Police Scotland Checklist:
Police_Scotland_CCTV_Advice.pdf (aberdeenshirecommunitysafety.org.uk) (External Link)

Hjaltland Housing Association Policy:
tenant-property-cctv-policy (hjaltland.org.uk) (External Link)

Domestic CCTV systems - guidance from the Information Commisioners Office:
https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/domestic-cctv-systems/ (External Link)

Exemptions for domestic use 
A guide to the data protection exemptions | ICO (External Link)

Contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (Scotland)
Scotland Queen Elizabeth House Sibbald Walk Edinburgh EH8 8FT.
Telephone: 0303 123 1115
Email: Scotland@ico.org.uk