Installing a CCTV camera outside your house might help you feel safer, prevent burglaries, and resolve neighbor problems, but if you don't follow the regulations correctly, it could land you in legal hot water.

An estimated six million CCTV cameras are in use in the UK at the moment, many of which were installed by individual households. However, even though CCTV cameras are a common deterrent for antisocial behavior, owning one requires you to abide by data protection regulations. These guidelines include releasing CCTV footage upon request and being careful not to unintentionally film your neighbors. If you don't, you might face criminal prosecution and hefty fines of up to £100,000 from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

You must have a clear reason for owning a CCTV camera

Security cameras aren’t a fun gimmick to play around with. The law states that you need to have a solid reason for needing one and you must be prepared to explain it if someone makes an official complaint to the police or local authority.

Your CCTV camera should not be recording more than it needs to

If you’re installing a camera, make sure that you are not recording parts of anyone else’s property, as this can definitely get you into trouble if a neighbour complains.

Let people know you are using CCTV

Since you can’t record people in secret, you are obligated to let those around you know that they are being filmed. The most sure fire way to do this is by putting up a sign, or by informing your neighbours in person.

Be prepared to show video or audio recordings of someone if they request it

If you’ve recorded someone on your CCTV, they have the right to request to see the footage of them – known as a Subject Access Request. So make sure that you are storing your recorded footage securely.

You need to delete the footage regularly

In order to comply with data protection laws, authority figures recommend deleting footage within 31 days – however this can depend on what you’re using the footage for, such as if it is being used as evidence in a legal case.

Stop recording people if they object

Of course there are exceptions, such as if the person objecting to being filmed is committing a crime on your property or otherwise threatening your safety. But if they aren't, they can request that you stop filming them, which you are obligated to honour unless you want to risk getting hit with a serious fine.