CCTV for HOAs and building entrances: how to set up a shared system

Why it is more cost-effective to organise surveillance collectively rather than individually

A camera above one’s own front door is a decision made by a single resident, who pays for it themselves. But as soon as its field of view includes the landing or neighbours’ doors, it is no longer a private matter but a communal one. The same logic applies here as with heating or cleaning the entrance hall: when the costs are shared amongst all co-owners, a set of equipment for the entire entrance hall or building works out significantly cheaper than the amount each person would spend on their own camera individually. Another advantage is that there are no «blind spots» between neighbours’ areas and no duplication of coverage: a single camera in the lift lobby covers an area that would otherwise have to be monitored by two or three separate devices.

Nowadays, the practice of installing CCTV in residential buildings is quite widespread — and HOA that have taken this step usually highlight three main benefits:

1. a reduction in minor disputes between neighbours (the recordings eliminate the question «Who did that?»);
2. assistance to law enforcement agencies in investigating crimes and/or offences against the property of the HOA or its residents;
3. faster resolution of disputes with utility providers or contractors.

Is it legal to install CCTV cameras in the entrance hall, and who decides?

The entrance hall, stairwell, lift lobby, basement and the area surrounding the building are jointly owned by the co-owners, not «no man’s land». Therefore, the decision to install CCTV in the entrance hall is not taken by one person alone, but collectively — at a general meeting of the HOA, with minutes recording exactly where the cameras are to be installed, who is responsible for them and who will have access to the footage. This is the HOA’s CCTV protocol — a fundamental document that resolves most subsequent issues and claims.

An important point to note: residents’ consent to the installation of cameras does not mean that signatures must be collected from literally every owner in the building. A resolution passed by the co-owners’ meeting in accordance with the HOA’s articles of association is sufficient. However, if a camera installed privately by one resident captures neighbouring doors or windows in its field of view, a different set of rules applies, and it is essential to grant the neighbour access to the footage.

Where CCTV cameras may be installed, and where they are strictly prohibited

The restrictions on the use of CCTV boil down to one simple principle: a camera must film only the area for which it was installed, and no more.

• the entrance area and courtyard;
• stairwells and communal landings;
• lift lobbies and lift cabins;
• basements, pram storage rooms and utility rooms.

• in a position that directly and clearly captures the doors or windows of another person’s flat;
• inside premises belonging to a specific owner, without their consent.

A separate issue is whether video surveillance with audio is lawful: continuous audio recording without a compelling need for it (for example, without specific justification in the HOA minutes) is considered a breach, regardless of where the camera is installed.

Another mandatory requirement is the display of «CCTV in operation» signs placed before the entrance to the area covered by the camera, not after it: on the entrance doors to the building, at gates or barriers, and inside the lift cabin. This is not a mere formality but a requirement: people who appear in the camera’s field of view (visitors, couriers, utility workers) must be made aware of this in advance.

A practical guide: how many cameras are needed and where to install them

The question «How many cameras are needed in a block of flats?» is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the number of storeys and the layout of the building, but a practical approach can be derived from case studies carried out by Maxnet’s specialists.

For a 16-storey building with two exits (one leading to the courtyard and one to the road), the following layout has proven effective:

• in the courtyard — a dome camera under a canopy near the entrance, which covers the surrounding area and the entrance itself;




• the lift area — a single domed chamber covering the lobby and the approaches to the lifts;




• the entrance section facing the road consists of a cylindrical chamber on the façade, positioned at a level between the first and second floors: this is sufficient to enclose the entire entrance area with a single unit.

For standard 9–12-storey prefabricated blocks of flats the setup is simpler: one dome camera, installed at the entrance to the block directly under the canopy, is usually sufficient. This design provides a wider field of view and is easier to install and maintain. Additionally, a single cylindrical camera can be installed on the façade to monitor the area around the building and the car park.

The main rule when planning is to avoid «blind spots»: areas that the camera cannot technically cover due to its field of view, poles, signs or elements of the facade. Before final installation, it is worth checking the coverage area in real life, rather than just on a diagram.

The cloud or a recorder: which should a HOA choose?

The answer to the question of whether a HOA should choose the cloud or a recorder usually comes down to striking a balance between convenience and control.

A recorder (DVR/NVR) is physically installed on the premises — recordings are stored locally, and viewing the archive does not depend on an internet connection at the time of access. But in practice, this «independence» comes at a higher cost than it might seem at first glance:

• 24/7 recording drives are not standard consumer drives, but specialized ones designed for a constant data flow (like those found in server equipment). They require periodic replacement, and the cost of such drives is steadily increasing.
• To view recordings, you'll need a separate monitor connected directly to the recorder.
• The device itself requires a separate room with appropriate conditions, protection from damage or theft, and someone must regularly (ideally 24/7) monitor the system's operation: to ensure the camera angle hasn't changed, the recording hasn't been disrupted, and the device itself is functioning properly.

Cloud storage alleviates this burden: recordings are automatically sent to a remote server, access to live viewing and the archive is available from any responsible resident's phone or computer, and the equipment in the building itself is simpler and less vulnerable. The key requirement for a cloud-based solution is a stable and sufficiently fast internet connection in the building; otherwise, streaming quality and archive download speed will suffer.

Who has access to recordings and how long are they stored?

Who has access to the HOA's cameras is an issue that should be addressed during the meeting minutes. Typically, access is granted to a limited number of people: the HOA board chair, the building manager, or a designated responsible person, and, if necessary, the service company for technical support. This isn't a bureaucratic whim, but a requirement of personal data protection legislation: video recordings that identify a specific person are legally considered personal data, and access to them must be limited and justified.

Regarding how long recordings from HOAs cameras are stored, there's no single, strictly defined period in law. The general principle is that data is stored no longer than necessary to achieve the monitoring purpose. In practice, most systems in residential buildings are set to cycle for seven days, after which older recordings are automatically overwritten by new ones. If necessary (for example, to contact the police), a specific fragment can be saved separately before the cycle overwrites the recording.

System maintenance is no less important than installation.

Maintenance of a home's video surveillance system is a step often forgotten immediately after installation. Cameras require periodic viewing angle checks (especially after façade renovations or canopy replacements), cleaning of dust and cobwebs, and monitoring of the recorder's functionality and cloud connection stability. HOAs that specify a person responsible for this in the same protocol as the installation decision are less likely to encounter situations where cameras are officially present, but no recordings have been made for several months.

A stable Internet connection is the foundation of any cloud system

No matter how well-designed the camera layout, cloud video surveillance is only as effective as the home's internet connection and power grid. Connection drops mean interruptions in recordings precisely when recording is needed most.

Maxnet's fiber-optic internet provides stable speeds without sagging under load and backup power from the operator — all of which are critical when multiple cameras are simultaneously running, streaming to the cloud, and residents are also using the same connection for their own needs. For HOA planning to upgrade to IP video surveillance, the quality of the internet connection determines how reliable the system will be in practice, not just on paper. In buildings with Maxnet coverage, where technically feasible, we connect cameras directly to our network without using the internet, via a virtual local area network (VLAN), providing additional data security.

Setting up shared video surveillance in a building entrance or HOA is a manageable task if approached step by step: agree on the decision in the meeting minutes, properly position the cameras to avoid blind spots and infringe on neighbors' privacy, and designate a person responsible for access and maintenance. The result is an entrance with fewer minor conflicts, clearer responsibilities, and a foundation for action should the situation truly require it.