AITA for putting a camera in my room and changing out the locks?
A 20-year-old woman renting a room in a shared house started noticing her belongings shifted around and mysterious dents on her expensive MacBook. Suspecting foul play, she set up a hidden camera in her own space—and caught something straight out of a nightmare on day one.
The footage showed her landlord’s 45-year-old daughter sneaking in and repeatedly stabbing the laptop with a butter knife. Shaken, she quietly swapped the doorknob for one with a key while no one was home. When confronted, the landlord demanded the key or removal of the lock—and even told her to ditch the camera. After what she witnessed, is she really wrong for standing firm?
‘AITA for putting a camera in my room and changing out the locks?’
The young tenant shares a two-story house with her 65-year-old landlord and the landlord’s 45-year-old daughter:
This incident raises serious red flags about privacy violations and property damage in shared housing. Tenants generally have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their rented bedroom, even in a rooming house situation. Installing a camera inside your own private space (not in common areas) is typically legal, as long as it doesn’t record others without consent in areas where they have privacy rights.
Property law experts note that landlords cannot enter a tenant’s private room without proper notice except in emergencies. Snooping and deliberate vandalism—like stabbing electronics—crosses into criminal territory (potential destruction of property). The landlord’s demand for a key suggests she wants continued access, which undermines the tenant’s right to “quiet enjoyment” of her space.
Changing the lock without permission can be tricky and might violate some leases, but given the vandalism evidence, many legal advisors would argue it’s justified for safety. The tenant should document everything, back up the footage, and consider a police report for the damage—repairs or replacement could be pursued in small claims court against the daughter or landlord (vicariously).
Ultimately, this living situation sounds unsafe. Prioritizing a move while protecting belongings and evidence is the smartest path forward—no one should feel threatened in their own room.
See what others had to share with OP:
The online community is unanimous—this tenant is absolutely not the asshole and needs to prioritize her safety:
Almost everyone screams one thing: get out fast, because the behavior is alarming and potentially dangerous:
Many highlight how creepy and unhinged the knife-stabbing is, urging police involvement and evidence preservation:
![[Reddit User] - NTA! Landlord's daughter is behaving like a p__cho, and you need to make sure you protect yourself and your property! Keep the camera right where it is,...](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1766110369624-1.webp)
Some suggest legal steps like small claims for damages or checking local tenant laws:
The OP herself responded with an update:
No one in their right mind would blame this young woman for protecting herself after catching clear evidence of snooping and outright vandalism. Keeping the camera rolling and the door locked isn’t overreacting—it’s basic self-preservation.
The overwhelming advice boils down to one urgent message: move out as soon as possible, because jealousy-fueled knife attacks on belongings can escalate. Would you stay another night in a house where someone stabs your stuff, or start packing immediately?
