Hello everyone,
In brief, I recently moved into a shared house in Tokyo that just opened up and is managed by a larger company with multiple shared houses. Prior to my arrival, there was already a security camera at the entrance door, which I understood. However, yesterday, they informed me that they wanted to install one in the living room for potential “emergency” situations and asked for my consent. I declined because I consider the living room a private space. Nevertheless, they went ahead with the installation, stating they would only monitor it in emergencies.
I’m concerned about this as it seems like a breach of privacy. I also came across a [similar post](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/12ydk6n/is_it_legal_for_mansion_owner_to_install_security/?rdt=59863) on here from a few months ago.
Several factors complicate the situation:
1. I am the first person to move in, and the other roommates won’t arrive for another 2-4 weeks. So, currently, I’m inclined to wait before taking further action.
2. Hiring a lawyer is an option, but as a student, it’s not something I want to spend my money on, and it could potentially lead to eviction.
3. Finding a new place is incredibly challenging, and I would lose the money I’ve invested in contracts, cleaning, and insurance fees for this apartment.
I would like to share a picture, but I’m unsure if this subreddit allows it. If anyone knows how to share a picture, please advise, and I’ll gladly do so.
8 comments
>I declined because I consider the living room a private space.
Well unfortunately the living room, kitchen, etc. of a share house isn’t considered private and is considered a shared space. Not well versed in legalities here but just pointing out that the space is indeed considered shared/open and not private. I guess this would be akin to cameras in a common area of a dorm. Your room and/or bathrooms are considered private places. The post you mention is someone renting an entire apartment which is different from your situation as the entire space rented is private and not shared.
Share houses are almost always crummy living situations regardless.
The cheapest thing to do would be to move and not get a share house but instead your own place.
I used to live in a share-house where they had cameras in the living room and kitchen, and no they won’t use it only for “emergencies” they will use it to monitor if the habitants are following the rules of the share-house (sorting trash, not leaving a mess, doing your own dishes, inviting people over etc.).
Have you ever lived in a share house before?
However uncomfortable this feels, the chances are very high that there will come a time when someone is assaulted, or something less awful, like someone stealing or setting a hot pan down and leaving marks.
Sounds like a communal or shared space…not really much different from putting a camera at the main entrance.
If it was a private area such as a bathroom or the room that you are renting (the one that you were given a key for) that would be a major breach of privacy.
It’s a shared space and relatively normal. Way back when I lived in one and there were cameras in the entrance, kitchen, and living room. There isn’t much required in terms of background checks for people moving in and sharehouses are usually a very cheap way to live comfortably in a big city so it can attract odd people. Boy do I have stories of that. In short it’s a shared not private space so it’s going to be there anyway.
You could call them out on their horseshit by giving it a few days then covering up the camera – when they inevitably complain about it, you can query why they fucking lied about “only monitoring in emergencies”
Look at your contract. Are you renting the whole building with an option to share it/ sublet it? Or does the contract state you are renting the one room? Can you lock the living room and exclude others from using it?
I think it’s fine. You’re not going dance naked there are you? But if you forgot your phone there you might get it back with it