Can a Landlord or Vacation Rental Host Install Cameras or Surveillance Equipment Inside a Rental Property?
If you are renting an Airbnb, your main concern may be protecting your personal belongings or clearing a clogged toilet. The last thing that may come to mind is a hidden camera in your bedroom or bathroom. Although it is illegal to install cameras in any place in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, there have been reports of landlords and vacation rental hosts hiding cameras in a person’s rental.
If you believe that your privacy has been violated, our Greenville civil litigation attorneys are here to obtain the compensation that you deserve.
South Carolina Tenant Privacy Laws
Vacationers and tenants alike have a right to privacy when renting a vacation home or apartment. Landlords and vacation rental hosts are prohibited from unlawful surveillance, which would include placing a camera in a renter’s bedroom, bathroom, or other living quarters.
The right to privacy also applies to a landlord giving proper notice before entering your unit. However, a landlord is allowed to enter the premises to conduct repairs (giving at least 24 hours’ notice, except in the case of emergencies) or to show your apartment to a potential tenant.
Peeping Tom Law
Under SC Code §16-17-470 (voyeurism law), it is unlawful for a person to eavesdrop or be a “peeping tom.” This includes spying on a person through windows or doors, as well as using video or audio equipment to monitor a person’s actions. Landlords and rental hosts are not exempt from this law. Most lease agreements will specify how much notice a tenant will be given before a landlord or management company enters the unit. Landlords and vacation rental hosts must adhere to this contractual obligation.
What Should I Do If a Landlord or Vacation Rental Host Violates My Privacy Rights?
There are various laws protecting landlords, allowing them to begin the eviction process if rent is not paid by a certain time. As a renter, you have rights as well, perhaps the most important of which is your right to privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in various cases that privacy is a penumbra right, implied in several Amendments of the Bill of Rights.
A landlord or vacation rental host who violates a lessee’s privacy could face civil or criminal penalties or potentially both. If the landlord or host is in violation of South Carolina’s voyeurism law, a first-time offender could be sentenced to three years in jail and a fine of $500.
At Ryan Beasley Law, our mission is to help short-term and long-term renters feel that their privacy is respected. Your comfort and safety are no less important than anyone else’s, nor should you be treated any differently. If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, our Greenville civil litigation attorneys want to hear from you.
Privacy Violation While Renting? Contact Our Greenville Civil Litigation Lawyers Today
If you have recently rented an apartment or vacation home and found evidence of a privacy violation, our Greenville civil litigation attorneys would like to speak with you. With over 20 years of successfully representing clients and recently securing a $45 million verdict in a hidden camera case, you can be confident that your rights will be protected. To learn how we can be of assistance, contact Ryan Beasley Law today online or by calling (864) 679-7777.