Renovation builder using unauthorised images (inside my house) on his website!

I had builders doing a renovation job on my house and I was on their website and they have put pictures of my house up their. They must have taken them while I wasnt around. Would any one know how I can get them to take them down? I have been calling them about following up on soe snags and they havent been responding so cant ask them.

CBGB said:

Would any one know how I can get them to take them down?.

Click to expand...

Send them a solicitor's letter asking that they be removed as you did not give your permission for photos of your house to be used in a promotional situation.

PaddyBloggit said:

Send them a solicitor's letter asking that they be removed as you did not give your permission for photos of your house to be used in a promotional situation.

Click to expand...

I don't begrudge solicitors the opportunity to make a living, but I would send such a letter myself.

We had a scare last summer with some of the neighbouring kids reporting that men in a van were round photographing the kids. I didn't take too much notice, till we had the same report from a neighbouring estate.

The word back from the Gardai after a few days was that they found some guys in a van who were indeed taking photos - of nice driveways, to be claimed as part of their driveway portfolio to show to potential customers.

Padraigb said:

I don't begrudge solicitors the opportunity to make a living, but I would send such a letter myself.

Click to expand...

+++100

If they aren't responding to phone calls send a letter regarding the snags and include the fact you would like the picture of your house taken down from the site.

Why on earth would a solicitor need to be involved????

Are these pictures of the inside or the outside of your house?

If it's the outside then it's probably legal. Any photo taken from a public place is legal as far as I know. Could the photo have been taken from the public road?

If it's the inside then it's trickier. The law likely has nothing to say on this, and the Data Protection laws don't seem to apply to a persons property. I understand that you wouldn't want photos of the interior of your house up, but what specific law has been broken? Has a law been broken? What if it's in the T&Cs that you signed up for that photos may be taken?


As far as the driveway people go, they haven't committted any offence either (imo), and only would if they fraudently passed off someones elses work as their own. Displaying the pictures on a website wouldn't be illegal in my view, if the photos were taken from a public place.

We weren't asked if they could us pictures of our house on their website.

The whole issue never crossed my mind but I dont like the idea that a company can display pictures of the inside of my house on their website from a privacy perspective.

Fair enough if they want to use it for promotional reasons but they should ask for permission.

It seems strange if legally, there is nothin stopping any tradesman taking pictures of every house they work in a putting it up on the internet.

OT discussion of Google Street View deleted. Feel free to start a new thread to discuss Google Street View and privacy implications.

I think you may have a case, under general laws relating to privacy perhaps, as it's the inside of your house that's shown.

It's unlikely that there's specific legisdlation relating to this. In the end although you know it's your house no-one else is likely to.


I also take photos of kitchens that I do, usually with the customers permission but not always. I would never include photos of children or people etc, but it might be possible to read book titles on bookcases, which is an invasion of privacy. I would be aware of this and would avoid using photos that were identifible.


Since no specific law has been mentioned it's not clear what you can do now. At least not to me.

CBGB said:

I dont like the idea that a company can display pictures of the inside of my house on their website from a privacy perspective.

Click to expand...

Does it clearly identify your house in particular? i.e. does it associate the interior rooms with a particular address?

It it does, I can understand your displeasure but, if not, how do you feel your privacy has been breached?

PetrolHead said:

+++100

If they aren't responding to phone calls send a letter regarding the snags and include the fact you would like the picture of your house taken down from the site.

Why on earth would a solicitor need to be involved????

Click to expand...

For the reason that the OP said they aren't responding to their communication!!!!