A Ring doorbell can improve security, but it may also record tenants, visitors and neighbours. In Scotland, a landlord who installs one at a rented home should consider privacy, data protection and the tenant’s right to enjoy their home without unreasonable monitoring. The position depends on what the device records, whether it captures audio, where it points, who can view the footage and how long recordings are kept. This guide explains the main rules for Scotland renters, what information a landlord should provide, how to raise concerns, and what evidence may help if you believe surveillance is intrusive or unlawful.
When can a landlord use a Ring doorbell?
A landlord may have a legitimate security reason for using a video doorbell, particularly at a shared entrance or a building containing several homes. However, security does not automatically justify every recording. The landlord should consider whether the device is necessary, whether it is aimed only at the relevant entrance, and whether a less intrusive arrangement would work.
The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 supports a tenant’s right to use and enjoy their home. It does not give a landlord unlimited permission to watch or record tenants. Privacy and data protection duties may also apply when identifiable people are captured.
Video and audio are different
Ring devices may record both images and sound. Audio can capture private conversations beyond the property boundary, so enabling a microphone may be more intrusive than recording a narrow view of a doorway. A landlord should assess audio separately and disable it if it is not needed.
Data protection law generally requires a lawful basis, fair and transparent processing, data minimisation, secure storage and a limited retention period. The UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 may apply when the landlord is deciding why and how recordings are used.[1] A landlord should also explain who operates the system, how tenants can ask about their personal data, and who receives recordings.
What information should tenants receive?
Look for a clear notice near the camera or in writing. The notice should identify the person or organisation responsible, explain the purpose of recording, describe the area covered, give a retention period or criteria, and provide a way to make a privacy or data protection request.
- Keep a copy or photograph of any camera notice, privacy notice or message from the landlord.
- Check whether the camera covers your doorway, windows, garden, shared paths or neighbouring property.
- Ask whether audio is enabled, who can view recordings, how long footage is kept and whether clips are shared.
- Ask for the landlord’s written reason for the device and any alternative privacy measures considered.
Landlord entry, shared areas and reasonable privacy
A landlord’s right to arrange repairs, inspections or other permitted access is separate from the right to operate surveillance. A notice about entry does not by itself make continuous recording lawful. A tenant should normally be given reasonable notice for non-emergency access under the tenancy agreement and applicable law, while emergencies may require a faster response.
Risk is higher where a camera records the inside of a home, a private garden, a bedroom window, or visitors arriving at a tenant’s door. A camera in a communal area can still be problematic if it records more than necessary or is used to monitor a particular tenant’s movements. Tenants should not deliberately damage or remove the device, but they can ask for an urgent review of its position and settings.
What can a tenant do about intrusive recording?
1. Raise the issue in writing
Write to the landlord or letting agent and describe the concern calmly. Ask for the purpose, lawful basis, camera coverage, audio setting, retention period, access list and sharing arrangements. If the camera is pointed towards a private area, explain the impact and propose a narrower angle, privacy zone, audio disablement or removal.
2. Make a data protection request if appropriate
If you believe recordings contain your personal data, you can ask for information about processing and, where appropriate, make a subject access request. Keep the request focused and include the dates, times and location that may help identify footage. The landlord may need to protect other people’s information, so some footage could be withheld or edited.
The Information Commissioner’s Office provides guidance on individual data rights and accepts concerns where an organisation has not handled personal data properly.[2] The ICO may not decide every landlord-and-tenant dispute, but its guidance can help you frame a data protection complaint.
3. Consider the housing dispute route
If the issue forms part of a wider tenancy dispute, the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) may be relevant where it has jurisdiction. Its application process can be used for eligible proceedings involving a private residential tenancy; the tribunal’s current application guidance explains which application type and supporting documents are required.[3] A tribunal is not a substitute for an ICO complaint in every data protection matter, so identify the legal issue clearly.
Evidence that may help
- Take dated photographs showing the camera’s position and apparent field of view without entering restricted areas.
- Save letters, emails, notices and messages about the device or recordings.
- Keep a factual log of dates when recording, audio or monitoring was noticed and how it affected you.
- Record any request for footage or privacy information and the response received.
Do not try to access the landlord’s Ring account or share recordings publicly. If footage appears to show an immediate safety threat, stalking or another crime, contact Police Scotland. For a housing or privacy dispute, consider independent advice before taking action that could affect your tenancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can my landlord install a Ring doorbell at my rented home in Scotland?
- A landlord may be able to install a doorbell for a genuine security purpose, but the device must be used in a proportionate and transparent way and must not unreasonably interfere with your privacy.
- Can a landlord record audio through a Ring doorbell?
- Audio can be more intrusive than video because it may capture private conversations outside the intended area. The landlord should justify audio separately and should normally disable it if it is unnecessary.
- What should I do if the camera points at my private entrance or garden?
- Raise the concern in writing, ask for the camera angle and privacy settings to be reviewed, and keep photographs and correspondence showing the coverage.
- Can I complain about a landlord’s Ring doorbell?
- You can complain to the landlord first and may raise a data protection concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland may also be relevant to an eligible tenancy dispute.
How-To: Challenge an intrusive Ring doorbell
- Photograph the device and keep a dated record of what it appears to capture.
- Write to the landlord asking for the purpose, audio setting, retention period, access arrangements and camera coverage.
- Request a proportionate change, such as repositioning the camera, using a privacy zone or disabling audio.
- Make a focused data protection request if you need information about recordings or processing.
- Seek advice from an official support service or consider the appropriate complaint or tribunal route if the issue remains unresolved.
Help and Support / Resources
- Information Commissioner’s Office: information rights for the public
- First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber)
- mygov.scot: private renting and tenant information
