Hi,
I wonder if anyone can help.
We're renting a villa. The landlord has CCTV around the outside of the property to view all the doors. These cameras also get a great look over the sun loungers, the pool, and the patio. One of them can even see through the glass doors into the lounge if we leave the curtains open.
When we moved here we didn't know about the cameras. No one mentioned them, they're not in the contract.
On the first day we moved in (and our first time viewing the property after having already signed the 1 year contract) I emailed the landlord to request disabling the camera overlooking the sun loungers and pool.
We didn't get a response, so after a couple weeks we started just turning off the NVR in the day and turning it on at night or when we left the property.
Today the landlord finally got back to me, simply to say that he wants the cameras on and for me to stop turning them off.
I responded with a very reasonable message outlining why we turn them off. Expectation of privacy, uncomfortable being on camera when sunbathing etc.
I also explained that we turn them on whenever we're not around.
I suggested a compromise: disable the camera overlooking the pool and turn the camera that points into the lounge.
The Landlord ignored me and instead emailed the letting agent (with me copied into the email), asking him to tell me to turn them on.
So, I'm in a bit of a weird situation here. This landlord will not respond to me. He will not reason with me. He apparently doesn't care at all about working with us to find a compromise.
Our contract also says that we can't just leave without being liable for all of the months for the rest of the contract - 11 are remaining.
I'm having a hard time finding out anything about tenant rights and if we even have any in this situation?
Is the camera allowed to view into the property at all?
If we keep turning them on and off, as we have been, is there anything he could do to remove us from the property?
Any help here would be much appreciated.