Security cameras for renters and condo owners
Most home security advice assumes you own a house. If you rent or live in a condo, you have different limits: you probably can't rewire anything, you may not be allowed to drill, and you only control your own door. Here is how to think about it, wherever you live in Canada or the US.
Check the rules first
- Read your lease or your condo or HOA rules, and ask your landlord or property manager in writing before you mount anything.
- Point cameras at your own door or space. Hallways, shared areas and your neighbours' doors are not yours to film, and rules differ by building and by province or state.
- Look at how each product mounts on its product page, since what a building allows varies.
What to look for
- Battery or wireless. Several of our cameras and doorbells are battery-powered, which means nothing is hardwired and no electrician is needed.
- Alerts to your phone. So you know when someone is at your door while you are out.
- Storage you control. Check each product page for how recordings are stored, so you know what you are paying for beyond the camera.
Apartments are not a safe exception
In Toronto, 1,256 of the 2,772 residential break-ins reported to police in 2025 (about 45%) were at apartments. In New York City, about 73% of the residential burglary complaints in 2025 were at apartment buildings and public housing. See the numbers for your area.
Options for renters and condo owners
Wireless Video Doorbell Kit: with BatteriesFrom $99.99
WiFi Video Doorbell: Black or SilverFrom $69.99
Smart Indoor Security CameraFrom $159.00
Wiring-Free Outdoor Camera: Dual BatteryFrom $119.99
Outdoor Battery Camera: WiFi, Black or WhiteFrom $79.99
A camera doesn't stop a break-in by itself. It lets you see what is happening and keeps a recording. Product details, including power, mounting and storage, are on each product page.