In a world where security is expected, privacy cannot be overlooked.
CCTV privacy in NSW strata buildings is a growing concern as committees balance safety with legal obligations. They offer significant benefits, including crime deterrence, the protection of common areas, and reassurance for residents. But there’s a fine line between safeguarding your residents and violating their trust.

If you’re on a strata committee or managing a building, you’re not just responsible for maintaining infrastructure. You’re the custodian of community safety, transparency, and legal compliance. And when it comes to surveillance, the stakes are high.

CCTV Privacy in NSW Strata: Why It Matters

Under NSW law, any footage that identifies a person by face, vehicle, or distinctive behaviour may be considered personal information. That means the moment your cameras record a resident, guest, or staff member, privacy obligations may apply.

Handled responsibly, CCTV can enhance community safety. Mishandled, it may lead to complaints, internal disputes, and regulatory attention from the NSW Information and Privacy Commission.

If your building is unsure about its obligations, it’s best to seek legal advice to ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

Four Pillars of CCTV Privacy in NSW Strata

1. Purpose First: Avoid Blanket Surveillance

Surveillance should solve real problems, not create new ones. The most effective systems are guided by a clearly defined, lawful, and proportionate purpose, such as deterring theft, managing access to common areas, or documenting recurring incidents. A clearly defined, proportionate purpose should guide how surveillance is planned and implemented. Without a clear objective, surveillance risks becoming excessive, intrusive, or misaligned with residents’ expectations.

2. Transparent Communication Builds Resident Trust

People don’t like being watched, but they dislike it even more when they don’t know why.
Visible signage, plain-language communication, and upfront conversations reduce suspicion and foster cooperation. residents should be informed about who has access to footage, how long it is kept and how they can raise concerns

Residents don’t need a legal briefing—but they do need clear, honest communication that shows the committee is complying with privacy and surveillance laws.

3. Implement robust access controls

One of the biggest complaints about CCTV is not the cameras—it’s who’s watching.
Access to footage should only be accessible to authorised individuals, with strong controls in place to protect privacy. That means encrypted storage, maintaining access logs, and having a clear process for external requests, like those from police or insurers.

When footage ends up in the wrong hands—or worse, used in neighbour disputes—it damages trust fast.

4. Footage retention requires a balanced approach

The length of time CCTV footage is retained can impact both privacy and accountability. While practices vary, retention should be long enough to support incident management—but not so long that it risks breaching privacy expectations. Clear internal policies and automated deletion systems can help manage this balance.

For strata committees navigating CCTV privacy in NSW strata, retention policies must strike the right balance between legal obligations, resident trust, and operational needs. Keeping footage too long may raise privacy concerns; deleting it too soon could limit your ability to respond to incidents. The right retention period depends on the building’s risk profile and context.

Avoidable Pitfalls That Erode Confidence

When systems go unmonitored, policies get ignored. The result?

• Cameras capturing private spaces like balconies
• Footage used in personal disagreements
• Unsecured storage or casual sharing
• Residents unaware of their rights

According to the NSW Privacy Commission, over 20% of privacy complaints now involve CCTV misuse. And while most residents support cameras, less than half feel informed about how they’re managed.

It’s not just a legal risk. It’s a reputational one.

A Real-World Lesson: Rebuilding Trust Around CCTV Privacy in NSW Strata

A regional NSW complex installed cameras after minor security concerns. But with no signage, no access policy, and footage stored on a staff laptop, things quickly unraveled.

A resident discovered footage being used in a neighbour dispute. A formal complaint followed.

To their credit, the committee responded swiftly:

• Installed compliant signage
• Limited access to select committee members
• Formalised retention and deletion policies
• Issued a plain-language CCTV policy summary to all residents

The result? In just three months, complaints disappeared. Trust was restored. And the building passed its next privacy audit without a hitch.

Your Next Steps: Build Security on a Foundation of Respect

1. Audit your existing system: What are you recording—and why?
2. Check your signage, access protocols, and retention timelines.
3. Talk to residents. Keep it simple. Keep it human.
4. Get Help: An independent security audit can identify blind spots before they become liabilities.

And if you’re concerned about system blind spots or poor integration, read our guide on is your electronic security system leaving your business exposed to understand where vulnerabilities often hide.

When the Unexpected Happens: How Security and Strata Respond Together

Emergencies in residential buildings—whether medical, mental health-related, or a resident death—are rare but impactful. These situations demand calm, coordinated action.

Security guards play a critical role in supporting building management and emergency responders when incidents occur.

What Strata Committees Should Know About Emergency Response and CCTV Privacy in NSW Strata

• First on the scene: Security officers often respond before emergency services. They can restrict access, maintain safety, and assist responders efficiently.
• Privacy management: Guards help ensure that CCTV footage and sensitive information are handled respectfully and in line with CCTV privacy in NSW strata standards.
• Post-incident support: Security remains essential after an incident—managing site control, calming residents, and supporting any follow-up.
• Debrief and readiness: Every incident should trigger a review. Did protocols work? Was access managed correctly? Were roles clear?

Security personnel are more than a presence—they are partners in preparedness. And when something goes wrong, their actions shape how the community recovers.

Because Peace of Mind Lives Here, Too

At Urban Protection Group, we understand the balance between security and resident trust—especially when it comes to CCTV privacy in NSW strata buildings.

That’s why we offer free security assessments to help strata committees manage compliance, reduce complaints, and build safer communities—quietly and confidently.

Call us on (02) 8197 9559 or email clientcare@urbanprotection.com.au to book your free assessment today.