Q: I’m a property supervisor for a rental constructing in Midtown East. In latest months, there was a rise within the disappearance of packages left by supply employees within the unattended foyer. (Supply individuals are buzzed in all day, so it’s arduous to maintain monitor of who’s coming and going.) We’ve surveillance cameras in public areas, however they’re for the security of our tenants, to not monitor packages. However tenants have been asking to see the video footage to research the lacking packages. Am I allowed or obligated to share this footage with tenants? What are my tasks?
A: It is best to deal with a safety drawback in your constructing, however sharing video footage with tenants just isn’t the answer. Individuals don’t have an expectation of privateness in a foyer, however in addition they don’t anticipate their landlord to share movies of them getting their packages. The request raises thorny points: How a lot of the tape do you share? What do you do with the knowledge you glean? And when you present one tenant video footage, what do you do when the subsequent tenant asks for it?
“It’s a slippery slope,” mentioned Luise A. Barrack, head of the litigation division on the Manhattan legislation agency Rosenberg & Estis.
In brief, it’s not your job to research doable felony exercise. That’s what police are for. Should you suppose against the law occurred within the constructing, or if tenants request entry to the video to overview it, contact your native precinct for steerage.
“Put it to the police division and say, ‘Hey, we’ve had a variety of packages which have gone lacking, which we imagine are because of theft,’” Ms. Barrack mentioned. Allow them to let you know find out how to proceed.
However because the property supervisor, you can also make your constructing safer for the residents. Examine the locks on the outer door to verify they latch correctly. Put up indicators within the foyer stating that the realm is monitored by video surveillance, which may deter thieves. Flow into a letter to tenants reminding them to gather packages promptly and to be conscious of who they buzz into the constructing. Contemplate putting in a package deal locker, which would supply your tenants with one other layer of safety.
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