Quick Answer: It depends on your household.
Indoor cameras make sense if you have pets, young children, or carers at home, or if you want a second layer of coverage in case someone gets past your outdoor cameras.
They are less necessary if your outdoor setup already covers all entry points, or if you live alone and privacy is the priority. Placement rules matter: cameras in bathrooms or bedrooms are illegal across all Australian states.
Outdoor cameras handle the perimeter, but what about what happens inside? Indoor security cameras have become a common addition to Australian homes, used for everything from monitoring entry points after a break-in to keeping an eye on pets, children, or elderly family members. Whether an indoor camera makes sense for your home depends on your situation, your household, and where you plan to put it. For a broader look at how indoor and outdoor coverage work together, see our guide on indoor and outdoor security cameras.
Why Do People Install Security Cameras Inside Their Homes?
Indoor cameras serve a wider range of purposes than most people expect. Security is one reason, but it is rarely the only one.
A Second Layer of Defence
Outdoor cameras deter and document at the perimeter. An indoor camera covers what happens if someone gets inside. Positioned in a hallway or main living area, it captures movement through the home and gives you footage that outdoor cameras cannot provide.
Everyday Monitoring
Many Australian households use indoor cameras for reasons that have nothing to do with intruders:
- Pet monitoring: Check in on dogs, cats, or other animals while you are at work or away. Some cameras detect and distinguish pets from people, reducing false alerts.
- Child and family safety: Keep an eye on young children at home, or monitor areas like staircases for households with toddlers or older family members with limited mobility.
- Carer oversight: Verify that a carer, babysitter, or cleaner is doing their job and that your family members are safe.
- Package and delivery monitoring: An indoor camera facing a front entry can confirm whether parcels have been brought inside.
Peace of Mind When Away
Remote viewing through a smartphone app lets you check on your home in real time from anywhere. For households where both adults work full-time, or for people who travel frequently, this kind of visibility is practical and reassuring.
What Are the Benefits of Indoor Security Cameras?
It Gives You Coverage After a Breach
If an intruder bypasses your outdoor cameras, an indoor camera takes over. Footage from inside the home is often more useful for identifying a suspect, as it captures closer, clearer images of faces and movements.
It Cuts Down on False Alerts
Modern indoor security cameras use on-device AI to distinguish between people, pets, and other movement. You receive alerts that are relevant, not constant notifications triggered by a curtain moving or a pet crossing the frame.
It Keeps Your Footage Private
Indoor cameras with local storage keep footage on your device rather than on a third-party server. No monthly subscription fee is required, and your daily home life stays off external servers.
It Lets You Check In Remotely
View live footage, review recordings, and receive motion alerts from your phone wherever you are. This is useful for managing care arrangements, monitoring pets, or checking in on a property while travelling.
It Can Switch Off When You Are Home
Some indoor cameras include a privacy mode that physically rotates the lens away from the room when activated. This lets you disable monitoring without unplugging the device.
Are There Privacy Concerns with Indoor Security Cameras?
Yes. Indoor cameras record the private lives of everyone in the household, including family members, guests, and any workers who enter the home. Here is what to know before installing.
Bathrooms and Bedrooms Are Off-Limits
Placing a camera in a bathroom, toilet, or bedroom is illegal across all Australian states and territories. These areas carry serious legal consequences if recorded without consent.
Renters and Landlords Have Different Rules
Tenants can generally install wireless, removable indoor cameras within their own unit without landlord permission, provided the camera does not damage the property. Permanent or wired installations typically require written approval. Landlords cannot install cameras inside a tenanted property without the tenant's written consent, and doing so may breach state surveillance laws and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Audio Recording Has Extra Restrictions
Video recording in common areas of your own home is generally permitted. Audio recording without the consent of all parties is restricted or prohibited in most Australian states. Check the surveillance legislation in your specific state before enabling audio on any indoor camera.
Household Members Deserve to Know
Everyone who regularly spends time in your home has an interest in knowing where cameras are located. This applies to family members, flatmates, cleaners, and carers.
How Do You Address Indoor Camera Privacy Concerns?
Place Cameras in Common Areas Only
Stick to entry points, hallways, living areas, and other shared spaces. Avoid any area where someone could reasonably expect to be alone or undressed.
Use Privacy Mode When Cameras Are Not Needed
If your camera has a privacy mode, activate it when household members are home and monitoring is unnecessary.
Secure Your Camera Against Unauthorised Access
Change the default password on any camera connected to your home network, enable two-factor authentication where available, and keep firmware updated. An indoor camera that can be accessed by someone outside your household is a privacy risk in itself.
Check Your State's Surveillance Laws
Surveillance legislation varies by state in Australia. If you are unsure about what is permitted in your situation, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner provides guidance on how privacy law applies to security cameras before installing.
Where Should You Place Indoor Security Cameras?
The goal is to cover the paths an intruder would take through your home and the areas you need to monitor for everyday purposes, without recording anywhere private.
| Location | What It Covers | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Main entry / foyer | Anyone entering the home | High |
| Hallways | Movement between rooms and floors | High |
| Living room | Main common area, valuables | Medium |
| Staircase | Access to upper levels | Medium |
| Home office | Equipment and documents | Medium |
| Garage interior | Vehicles, tools, entry from garage | Medium |
A few practical notes on placement:
- Mount cameras at 2.4 to 3 metres high for the best field of view and to keep them out of easy reach.
- Use corners where possible: a camera mounted at a 45-degree angle in a corner covers a much wider area than one mounted flat against a wall.
- Do not point cameras at windows if you rely on PIR motion detection. PIR sensors do not detect motion through glass, so window-facing placement will miss movement outside and may produce unreliable alerts.
- Aim cameras slightly downward to capture faces rather than just the tops of heads.
Do You Actually Need Indoor Security Cameras?
Indoor cameras add real value in some households and are unnecessary in others.
You Probably Do Need Indoor Cameras If:
- You have pets or young children at home during the day and want to check in remotely.
- You use carers, cleaners, or other workers who enter your home regularly.
- You have had a break-in or live in an area with higher property crime rates.
- Your outdoor camera setup has gaps at entry points that lead inside.
- You have elderly family members at home who may need monitoring for safety.
You May Not Need Indoor Cameras If:
- Your outdoor camera setup already covers all entry points with clear, close footage.
- You live alone and privacy is a higher priority than indoor monitoring.
- You have a small property where outdoor cameras provide complete visibility of all access points.
- You are renting and prefer not to navigate landlord approval for indoor installations.
Build Smarter Indoor Security with eufy
Indoor cameras work best as part of a layered setup: outdoor cameras cover the perimeter, indoor cameras cover what happens inside. eufy's indoor range stores footage locally with no monthly fee, and every model includes Privacy Mode, which physically rotates the lens away when you are home.
The eufy Indoor Cam S350 is the premium indoor choice. With dual-camera 4K clarity, 360° pan-and-tilt, and 8× hybrid zoom, it covers large open-plan areas from a single corner mount. Its AI-powered tracking automatically follows people or pets around the room, and the Privacy Mode physically rotates the lens away when you are home — no unplugging, no guessing.
The eufy Indoor Cam E220 suits most rooms with 2K resolution, motorised 360° pan and 96° tilt, and on-device AI that detects humans, pets, and crying to log only relevant clips. It supports Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, and stores footage locally to a microSD card with no subscription required.
Both connect to the eufy Security app for remote viewing, motion alerts, and Privacy Mode control from your phone. An indoor camera will not replace good locks or outdoor coverage, but placed in the right spot, it keeps watching when you cannot be there.
FAQs
Q1: Can a landlord install security cameras inside a rental property in Australia?
No, landlords cannot install security cameras inside a tenant's private living space without the tenant's written consent. This applies across all Australian states and is considered a breach of the tenant's right to privacy and quiet enjoyment. Landlords may install cameras in outdoor areas and common property, subject to body corporate rules where applicable.
Q2: Do indoor security cameras work through glass windows?
No, most indoor security cameras with PIR motion detection do not detect movement through glass. PIR sensors read heat signatures, and glass blocks the infrared radiation they rely on. For window coverage, use an outdoor-rated camera mounted outside the glass.
Q3: Can I use an indoor security camera to monitor my baby or elderly parent?
Yes, an indoor camera can monitor a baby or elderly family member, and many Australian households use them this way. For infants, a dedicated baby monitor offers added features like two-way audio and temperature sensors. For elderly family members, a camera in a living area, hallway, or near a staircase provides useful visibility without being intrusive.
Q4: Do I need to tell people about indoor security cameras in my home?
You are not legally required to disclose indoor cameras to guests in most Australian states, but it is strongly recommended for anyone who regularly spends time in your home, including family members, flatmates, cleaners, and carers. Failing to disclose to people who live in or regularly use your home may create legal complications, particularly where audio recording is involved.
Q5: Can indoor security cameras record audio in Australia?
Recording audio without the consent of all parties is restricted or prohibited in most Australian states under surveillance device legislation. Video-only recording in common areas of your own home is generally permitted. If your camera has an audio or two-way talk feature, check whether enabling it complies with the surveillance laws in your specific state before use.
