Landlord fined after tenants allegedly spied on each other with CCTV

A tenant who alleged he was spied on with living room CCTV installed by his flatmate has won $800 from the landlord.

The spat between the tenants – who were once friends – landed in a tribunal, with their landlord accused of failing to protect the peace and quiet.

Both renters installed cameras in the home to record each other, the landlord told the Irish tribunal. 

One of the renters sought compensation from the landlord of the Dublin house, for failing to act when he reported trouble with the second tenant. 

The tensions started over parents staying at the property.

The Residential Tenancies Board heard the second flatmate invited his parents to the home for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. The first tenant, who brought the matter to the tribunal, was unhappy with his friend’s mum and dad residing at the home for that many days.

The landlord was informed by the first tenant and agreed that the length of the visit was excessive but the other man went ahead and brought his parents over anyway.

Following this, the aggrieved tenant alleged his flatmate installed closed-circuit cameras in the living room to watch him, and informed the landlord. He also alleged physical and verbal assault from his flatmate’s brother.

“The Applicant Tenant also stated that the other tenant began making a lot of noise including having the TV on loud and that the tenant’s brother verbally abused him and hit him and threatened him,” the published decision said.

The Irish police, known as the Gardai, were informed, but said it was a civil problem.

The landlord told the tribunal he was a first-time, inexperienced landlord doing “his best”.

He said both tenants had CCTV cameras in the home and “they were watching each other”.

Mediation between the parties failed, so it went to an adjudicator’s decision.

The tribunal’s chair Rosemary Healy Rae found the landlord was in “breach of his obligations” and his response to the first tenant’s concerns were insufficient, awarding the tenant €500.00 (about $AU800). The tenant had a right to the peaceful enjoyment of the home, according to Rae. 

By June 2024 both tenants had vacated the home.

Nine has elected not to name the tenants and landlord.