Recording In Own Home!

[pussyfoot]

Hi, is it legal to record a conversation in your own home in your absence. I am trying to sell my house and have very envious neighbours trying to sabotage the sale by arranging “Pretend” viewings, my estate agent is doing the viewings in my absence and I am recording purely for myself and no one else as I want to know which leads to follow and which to ignore as dishonest.

[Peter Pedant]

Yes
We all have CCTV ( xc you )
I have registered with the Information Commissioner - for other reasons ( I keep computer records ) put in the camera

and stick on the window - the sticker you get with the camera that says CCTV at work

[Peter Pedant]

the question is - can she install a camera
and the answer is yes

does she have to tell everyone who comes in or may come in ?
No - but a sticker fulfils this anyway

creepy or not - I can imagine neighbours doing this
watch a bit of nasty neighbours and slum landlords

[One of my friends Aunt - a good day out was doing a bit of shopping, lunch and then going around hlooking at ouses she had no intentions of buying]

[New Judge]

"I don't know if it's illegal but it probably is, as such recordings are inadmissible in courts of law,..."

Not necessarily correct, Khandro but not quite the same thing anyway.

[Peter Pedant]

no we were always there
it wasnt me by the way your honour

the removed answer upsets the thread of the discussion
and it makes part of my answer very odd rather than the usually odd

but if it doesnt add any legal content but moralises - it may go

The test of lawfulness is NOT whether it is admissible in court or not - the tests are different in criminal and civil for a start ( see for example the Hearsay Act 19something)

and the poster has made it clear she wishes to CCTV just to find out if pretend viewings are being done or not

is making a statement "oo I want to buy this house at some price or other" making a false statement with an intent to cause loss under s2 of the Fraud Act ? I think I will let NJ answer that one.

[bednobs]

is she really talking about cctv? I assumed audio recording

[Zacs-Master]

Yes I'm pretty sure it's audio rather than visual.

[kvalidir]

Yes you can legally film or record anyone in a public place or in a private place with the permission of the owner ( so that's you) as long as it's not for voyeuristic purposes or is a threat to national security, but I can't see how it will help you because no-one is going to come and view and once there go ' Hi I'm a fake viewer'.

[Islay]

//I want to know which leads to follow and which to ignore as dishonest. //
If you have an agent you don't follow any leads your agent will have the contact details not you.

[pixie374]

It is legal only if at least one of the parties present knows about it. So you can record if you are there, but not if you are out.

[EDDIE51]

Not quite the question, but I remember people booking a viewing of a house just as a day out or sightseeing. It used to be quite common.
I can remember as a child an Aunt telling me she was going to look at a big house that was for sale. When I asked if she was going to move home she just said ''Oh no, I have always wanted to look in that house''
A bit like an old version of ''Through the Keyhole''

[Peter Pedant]

blimey well spotted Pixie - one party present has to know
BUT - do we all turn off our burglar remote CCTV's when we go out ? No we do not .....
(and what about CCTV in railway stations ?)

I still think it is lawful

[EDDIE51]

As to recording I don't think you need tell them or to get any permission at all. It is inside your property and it is not going to be used in a legal case.Surely it is the same as a 'Nanny Cam' that people use to check up on babysitters ?

[Khandro]

The OP says, record a conversation which meand the person recording wants to listen in later to what has been said, and by whom, during the viewing of the property.

If I say once more what I think of this, I shall probably have my post removed again.

[Islay]

Khandro she is not asking for your opinion but her legal position!

[Gizmonster]

To be honest, if you'll be the only person viewing the recording and you don't discuss its contents with anyone - who's to know??
However, if you later decide to talk to your neighbours about the viewings and you reveal information that you shouldn't know, then that could be problematic.
My personal opinion - as long as you're 100% certain that the contents of the recordings will stay with you and only you .... well .... you can see where I'm going yea??

[EDDIE51]

This site says it is legal to use 'hidden surveillance' inside your own home
https://www.justanswer.com/uk-law/3qqga-please-tell-legal-uk-use-nanny.html?rpt=1022