A simple process question related to how all of you “rental property owners” work through the process of assigning additional admins to the Aosu app / console or if this is a “best practice” and get your insight as to how you do this (especially if you have multiple rental properties).
Recently, I had a local management company for one of my properties who for legal reasons will not “get involved” in exterior security cameras. They effectively don’t want any liability associated with monitoring the property I would be paying them to manage.
I have a trust worthy local resource at this particular property (my son), and wanted to confirm if it’s a best/bad practice to have others use my account for monitoring activity etc OR, perhaps there is an alternative solution I haven’t identified.
I’m not going down the path of Aosu for business (an dmin console etc – I do that in my day job) and I’m just getting started in the “world of securing rental properties” AND also love this product.
You’ve raised a great question, and it’s one that many rental property owners wrestle with when balancing security, liability, and access.
First, regarding assigning additional admins or sharing access to the Aosu app — while it might seem convenient to let a trusted person like your son monitor the cameras using your account, it’s important to consider the legal and liability implications involved. Monitoring security cameras at a rental property, even for well-intentioned purposes, introduces additional responsibilities and risks. Here are a few key points to consider:
Privacy Laws: Legally, security cameras can only monitor shared or common areas (e.g., entrances, driveways, shared hallways). Cameras must not be placed in or pointed toward any area a tenant can reasonably expect privacy (such as windows, patios used exclusively by the tenant, or interiors). Improper placement or access to footage could be interpreted as surveillance, which could violate privacy laws depending on your jurisdiction.
Liability Concerns: Once you or someone acting on your behalf is actively monitoring footage, you may become responsible for responding appropriately to events captured. Failing to act on something seen (like a safety hazard, suspected criminal activity, or tenant misconduct) could potentially expose you to claims of negligence. This is one reason management companies often avoid taking on this role — it shifts legal responsibility toward them.
Battery/Solar Limitations: On the practical side, Aosu’s solar or battery-powered cameras may not perform reliably year-round, especially in winter months when sunlight is limited and manual recharging may be required. If no one is regularly on-site to check or recharge the cameras, you may end up with gaps in coverage — which could be a problem if you’re relying on that footage for security or liability purposes.
Best Practice Suggestion: Instead of sharing full account access, consider allowing for limited or guest access where users can view footage but not change settings. Alternatively, consult a local attorney or property management consultant to draft clear policies if someone else is going to be reviewing footage — even informally — so the boundaries and responsibilities are defined.
In short, while having your son assist can be helpful, it’s worth approaching this thoughtfully to ensure you’re staying compliant and protected. Hope this helps!
Great question and welcome to the world of securing rental properties.
I have been managing multiple rentals myself and have come across a similar situation. Aosu does allow you to add additional users through their app by inviting them as shared users rather than giving out your main account credentials. This is the best practice especially for security and audit purposes.
Here is what I recommend:
Use the “Device Sharing” feature in the Aosu app.
Go to the device settings.
Tap on “Device Sharing”.
Send an invite to your son’s Aosu account via email.
He’ll get limited access viewing live and recorded footage but wo not be able to change critical settings or delete recordings.
This keeps your main account secure and gives trusted individuals the right level of access without full admin rights. Also, if your son eventually helps manage other properties, it is easy to add or remove devices as needed.
Since you have avoiding the enterprise route for now, this method scales just fine for a few properties without overcomplicating things.
Hope that helps feel free to reach out if you hit any snags setting it up.
Very thoughtful, and you provided me with a lot of invaluable insights to think through, and act on. Thank you @efonkam for taking the time to share / support. Have a great day ahead! -EMart
@ma2bb7, I appreciate your insight, and I’m all about keeping it simple (which drew me to Aosu from Arlo/Ring). Managing a rental property with college aged tenants is enough complexity / liability. Wishing you well, and thank you for the insight.