A proposal for the assembly
Camera positions, fields of view, equipment and what drives the cost, so the vote is on something specific.
CCTV for shared areas
Security cameras in apartment buildings: entrance, parking, lobby
We install security cameras in apartment buildings in Athens and across Attica, after a decision of the owners' general assembly and only in shared areas: the entrance, lobby, ground-floor parking and garage. With no view of apartment doors, short retention and a clear rule on who sees the footage.
Free first meetingAcross Attica
Assembly decisionBefore any installation
Shared areas onlyEntrance, lobby, parking, garage
Controlled accessNamed people view the footage
CCTV for shared areas
Security cameras in apartment buildings start with the general assembly
Shared areas belong to all the co-owners, so no single owner and no building manager can decide on cameras alone. Installing security cameras in apartment buildings requires a decision of the general assembly. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority's guidance (Directive 1/2011) refers to an increased majority of two thirds, and the building's own regulations may set something stricter.
The decision should state the purpose (protecting people and property), the camera positions, the retention period and who has access to the footage. Before the assembly we can give you a proposal with camera positions and equipment, so the co-owners vote on something specific. Tenants who are not owners must also be informed.
We are not lawyers. For the wording of the decision and for disputes between co-owners, ask your legal adviser or the DPA (dpa.gr).
CCTV for shared areas
Where cameras go, and where they do not
Cameras in an apartment building cover the building's entry and exit points and the areas where theft and damage usually happen. They do not cover points that reveal each resident's daily life: who goes into which flat, when and with whom.
That is why cameras are not placed in stairwells or floor corridors that look at apartment doors, nor on roof terraces with washing lines or in areas where residents spend their time. And of course, the entrance camera must not look at the pavement and the buildings opposite.
- Main entrance: a camera inside, facing the door, to see who comes in
- Lobby and letterboxes: a common spot for theft of post and parcels
- Ground-floor parking and garage entrance: theft of and damage to cars and bicycles
- Basement storage: only the shared access corridor, not inside the storerooms
- Not: floor corridors, apartment doors, roof terrace, street
CCTV for shared areas
How long footage is kept, and who sees it
In an apartment building, retention must be very short. For the shared areas of apartment buildings the Authority refers to retention of around 48 hours, whereas for businesses the limit is up to 15 days. If an incident is recorded, such as a break-in in the garage, the clip is exported and kept for as long as the case needs it. The recorder deletes anything older automatically.
The assembly decision names one or two people with access to the recordings, usually the building manager. We do not give every resident an app with access to the archive: that would mean anyone could see when their neighbours come and go. Footage is released only to the police, the public prosecutor or a court, or to the victim of an incident.
CCTV for shared areas
A video intercom: a different, useful solution
Often what residents want is not recording but to see who is ringing before they open the door. A video intercom at the entrance does exactly that: each flat sees the visitor at the moment they ring that flat's bell, and only then. Modern IP intercoms also send the call to your phone, so you can see the courier even when you are out.
The intercom can be linked to the camera system with separate permissions: residents see only their own visitor, while the manager has access to the recordings. In older Athens apartment buildings with an analogue intercom, the upgrade can often use the existing wiring.
CCTV for shared areas
Practicalities: power, internet and signs
The recorder goes in a locked cabinet in a shared area, powered from the common-areas electrical panel with a small UPS. Such a system uses little electricity, but the co-owners should know about it.
If the building does not want remote viewing, the system works without internet and the manager views footage locally only when needed. If it does, the building needs its own connection, for example an inexpensive line or a 4G router, not a resident's Wi-Fi. An information sign goes at the building entrance and the garage entrance, before anyone enters the recorded area.
For building managers
What the building gets from us
Privacy masks
The street, buildings opposite and apartment doors are hidden on the camera itself.
Automatic deletion
Retention is set according to the decision and the recorder deletes footage on its own.
Accounts and audit log
Archive access only for the people in the decision, with every login recorded.
Video intercom
Each resident sees who is ringing their own bell, and on their phone if they wish.
How we work
From the assembly proposal to handover
Survey with the building manager
We look at the entrance, lobby, parking, garage and storage, and where the recorder can go.
Proposal for the general assembly
A written proposal with positions, fields of view, equipment and retention, to circulate before the assembly.
Installation
Once the decision is taken, we run cables discreetly in trunking, usually within one day for a typical building.
Privacy settings
Masks, retention period, accounts only for the people in the decision, signs at the entrances.
Handover to the manager
Training on searching and exporting an incident, passwords, and a note of the settings for the minutes.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? Call us or send us a message.
Do cameras in an apartment building need a general assembly decision?
Yes. Shared areas belong to all the co-owners, so installing cameras requires a decision of the general assembly. The DPA's guidance refers to a two-thirds majority, and the decision should state purpose, positions, retention and access. For the wording, ask your legal adviser.
Can I put a camera at my own apartment door?
A camera or smart doorbell at your door almost always sees a shared corridor or stairs, and therefore your neighbours. That makes it far from simple, and often it is not allowed without consent. A safer option is a digital door viewer that shows an image only when you activate it, with no recording. If you want more than that, ask a lawyer first.
How much do security cameras in an apartment building cost?
The cost depends on the number of points (entrance, lobby, parking, garage), the cabling distances, whether there is existing trunking or conduit, and whether a video intercom or internet connection is added. We offer a free site survey or an estimate from photos, and the written proposal can be circulated to the co-owners before the assembly.
Can every resident view the cameras on their phone?
We do not recommend it. If every resident can access the recordings, they can see when their neighbours come and go. Usually only the building manager, or whoever the assembly names, has access. For residents to see who is ringing, the right solution is a video intercom.
How long are recordings kept in an apartment building?
Much less than in a business. For the shared areas of apartment buildings the DPA refers to retention of around 48 hours. If an incident happens, the relevant clip is exported and kept for the case.
Is a camera allowed in the lift or on the stairs?
Cameras in stairwells and floor corridors are generally avoided, because they show who goes to which flat. The same logic applies to the lift car, an enclosed space very close to the resident. If there is a specific problem, such as repeated vandalism, discuss it with a lawyer before bringing it to the assembly.
Who is responsible for the building's cameras?
The co-owners are responsible for the system, acting through the building manager or the person the assembly names. That person looks after the signs, access to the footage and informing residents. We install and configure the system in line with the decision.
For other premises
See also
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See the pageA security camera proposal for your apartment building, ready for the assembly
Tell us the address and send a few photos of the entrance and parking. We will send a written proposal with camera positions and what drives the cost, for you to share with the co-owners.