Can my neighbour point CCTV at my house?

January 07 2026

CCTV is an extremely useful security tool to have around the home, but there are rules that you and your neighbours must follow. ADT’s experts are here to take you through those regulations, so you know what to expect from a legal perspective.

If you haven’t yet invested in CCTV and want to do so, get in touch with our team to discuss the ideal solution for your property.

So, can my neighbour record me on CCTV?

In short, yes: your neighbour can point CCTV at your home. While it’s not illegal for your neighbours to capture footage beyond their own property, there are rules they must follow to comply with UK GDPR laws. Neighbour CCTV systems can record beyond the boundaries of their own properties, however, they cannot invade your privacy (filming directly into windows) or capture personal data excessively, and vice versa for your own CCTV system.

CCTV, GDPR and DPA

So, while your neighbour is allowed to capture CCTV footage around your home, they can’t just film whatever they like; they must comply with data protection laws. You’ll also have to follow these rules if you install your own CCTV system.

The rules you must follow:

If your neighbour isn’t following these rules, they could be subject to the ICO's regulatory action. If the regulatory actions don’t work and they break the law, you can also file a lawsuit.

My neighbour has installed CCTV, what are my rights?

Just because your neighbour has installed CCTV, it doesn’t mean they can do whatever they like with the footage of you or your home. Under GDPR and the Data Protection act, you can:

Insist you’re informed when a CCTV system has been installed
Request a copy of any recordings that feature you
Request for footage you’re in to be deleted
Request that they do not record you again

Your neighbour can refuse the requests if they have legitimate reasons (i.e. footage of you features someone breaking the law or they need CCTV to capture a certain area, which is impossible without capturing you, too).

What are my neighbours' obligations if they install CCTV?

When your neighbour installs CCTV that records video outside of their property, they automatically become the ‘data controller’ and have to follow certain rules. Unless the system is controlled by a third party (e.g., like a security company), who take on that role.

A data controller is the person (or company) that chooses how and why to use CCTV. They are in charge of adhering to data protection regulations such as the UK GDPR. This means they control, gather, store, and use the data while upholding the data protection rights of the people whose images are captured.

If your neighbour is the data controller of their own CCTV, they must:

Only record for specified and legitimate purposes (e.g. home protection)
Process those recordings (the data) fairly and lawfully
Signpost that CCTV is being used
Make sure they only record data that’s needed, and process it only when they need to (they can take recordings of anti-social behaviour recorded on your property to the police, but couldn’t post anything of you on social media)
Only store data that they need (typically this should be reviewed and deleted every 30 days)

There’s no hard and fast rule on what is ‘necessary’ for the data controller to collect, but if two parties disagree, it can be brought to a judge who will decide the right to privacy vs. the right to protect property.

What can I do if I’m videoed by my neighbours CCTV cameras?

If you are unhappy that you’re being captured by your neighbours’ CCTV cameras, the first thing you should do is talk to them; just make sure you’re being calm and respectful.

If you gain an understanding of what they’re recording and why, then explain your concerns about being recorded- it will help clear up any confusion/misunderstanding. It’s also possible that your neighbours’ CCTV is capturing angles that perhaps yours doesn’t, or not anywhere near as much of your property as you had thought.

If this doesn’t work and you find yourself in a dispute with your neighbour, you could also consider:

Contacting their landlord (if they’re renters)
Seek legal advice from a solicitor; there are ones who specialise in neighbour disputes
Use a mediation service or an unbiased 3rd party who will look objectively at who’s in the right

Conclusion

By following the legal requirements for CCTV recording, your neighbour and yourself can safely benefit from the technology. We have a range of other useful CCTV guides, including how they differ from IP cameras; handy if you’re unsure of what sets them apart.