CCTV and video bells

This guidance is for tenants and leaseholders of Southampton City Council seeking to install a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) or other video image capturing device at their home such as a video bell.

Southampton City Council understands that some of our tenants and leaseholders will feel more secure if they install CCTV in order to deter crime or if they have been experiencing antisocial behaviour.

You must ask for permission in writing before installing CCTV or other video image capturing devices.

You must not fit anything to your front door, and you must not screw anything through the door or the door frame as this breaches the fire safety of the door. You may be asked to reinstate the door or you could be charged for the work to reinstate the door if this is done by Southampton City Council. 

There are legal requirements for capturing and storing personal data. You must meet these requirements when using CCTV and image capturing devices.

If your system captures images of people outside the boundary of your private domestic property, then the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18) will apply, and you will need to ensure your use of CCTV complies with these laws. If you fail to comply with your obligations under the data protection laws, you may be subject to enforcement action by the Information Commissioning Officer. This could include a fine. You may also be subject to legal action by affected individuals, who could pursue court claims for compensation.

Further information on what you need to consider before requesting permission can be found on the ICO’s website.

You will need to complete our online form to request permission.