For 8-unit apartment, if each tenant requests internet access from service provider. Years later, the cable box is messy and you can not tell whether the wire on the wall is still used as tenant will not remove these wires when they exit.
Do you suggest landlord to provide a common internet access to all tenants and charge additional $30~50 per month? Meanwhile, you can install the security camera when the common internet is provided.
Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 606 votes
5mo
@Zhenyang Jin Yes, providing a centralized internet service is usually the cleaner and more scalable solution. It eliminates the wiring mess, gives you control and allows you to support things like security cameras.
Just make sure the bandwidth can handle multiple users, you build the cost into rent or clearly structure it as a utility fee and set expectations around usage to avoid complaints. Overall, it is a more professional setup and easier to manage long-term.
For 8-unit apartment, if each tenant requests internet access from service provider. Years later, the cable box is messy and you can not tell whether the wire on the wall is still used as tenant will not remove these wires when they exit.
Do you suggest landlord to provide a common internet access to all tenants and charge additional $30~50 per month? Meanwhile, you can install the security camera when the common internet is provided.
Regards, Zhenyang
To avoid a number of issues, it is better to get a separate account for the building ownership to access cameras from, unless you install a proper, permanent distribution system for it to each unit and then include it (if allowed by local law) in the basic rent. Check with the ISP to see if they offer "bulk pricing" packages for an 8 unit building (or 8 + a terminal for owner access). There might be a reduction in cost that you can offer to the Tenants and have them pay for Premium channels or speed upgrades.
Alternately, but if you have a solid long term Tenant that will cooperate, or if local law allows you to do so, make it a mandatory issue for a particular unit, where the Tenant must subscribe to a certain level of service, and you are allowed to connect your NVR remotely via ethernet cable from their unit's access point, so you will have the camera access only. As long as you are continuously monitoring 20 cams there is no notable degradation to the Tenants access speeds.