Hackney has a real mix of properties: converted Victorian terraces, flats above shops, warehouse-style apartments and busy high-street units. Each one needs a slightly different approach to security, and the right answer is rarely "just add more cameras". This guide walks through how we plan CCTV, alarms and entry systems for homes and small businesses across E5, E8, E9 and N16, and what the relevant packages include. All prices below are inc. VAT.
If you want the area overview first, see our CCTV installation in Hackney page and our access control in Hackney page.
Start with the entrances, not the camera count
Most break-ins and parcel thefts happen at the front door, the rear garden or yard, and any ground-floor window. Before choosing equipment, walk the property and list every way in. For a terrace that usually means the front door, the back door, the rear garden wall and a side passage if there is one.
Two cameras covering the front and the rear is a sensible starting point for a smaller home. Our Home Starter: £899 inc. VAT package includes two 5MP turret cameras in grey or white, a 1TB drive with around two weeks of footage, live viewing from your phone and motion detection alerts, installed neatly in a single visit.
If you want full-colour footage after dark and more coverage, Home Protect: £1,499 inc. VAT has four 4K ColorVu cameras, a 2TB drive with 3 to 4 weeks of footage, smart human and vehicle detection, instant alerts and a built-in strobe and siren to deter intruders.
Placement matters as much as the hardware. Cameras mounted too low are easy to knock or cover, and cameras pointing straight at a bright street light struggle with glare. A good installer will check angles at dusk, not just in daylight.
Flats and rented homes
Many Hackney homes are flats, and many residents rent. Drilling into brickwork or running cables through shared hallways is often not an option. A wireless alarm is usually the practical answer.
Our Flat/Apartment alarm: £699 inc. VAT is a fully wireless system with a smart hub and keypad, one door contact and two motion sensors, with app control and instant notifications. It is fitted with no drilling and no cable runs. If you are renting, our guide to home security when you cannot drill covers what to check with your landlord first.
If you have already bought a smart doorbell, the Video Doorbell Fit: £129 inc. VAT service covers fitting, wiring to your existing chime or transformer, app setup and alerts, with an angle bracket where needed. It works with any major brand.
Shops, studios and small businesses
Shopfronts on Hackney's busier streets face a different set of risks: till theft, after-hours break-ins and disputes that come down to what was actually recorded. The aim is evidence-quality footage and a clear alarm routine for closing up.
Retail Essential: £1,399 inc. VAT gives you four 4K vandal-resistant dome cameras, a dedicated cash till monitoring view, 2TB of commercial-grade storage and remote manager access from any device. Pair it with the Small Shop alarm: £999 inc. VAT, which has a Grade 2 commercial panel, high-security door contacts, individual staff user codes and a hold-up panic button.
Individual staff codes are worth having even in a very small team, because they make it clear who opened or locked up and when. If you are comparing options for a shop, the same principles apply as in our wired vs wireless CCTV guide.
Entry systems for blocks and offices
For shared entrances, workspaces and studios, a cloud-managed system lets you add or remove people without changing locks. Cloud Access: £2,499 inc. VAT is a cloud-managed system for up to three doors, with mobile credentials so a phone acts as the key, plus time and attendance logs and a 3-door controller kit.
Book a survey before you buy
Every property is different, and a plan on paper avoids paying for cameras you do not need. A Home Survey & Design costs £99 inc. VAT and includes an engineer site visit, a written recommendation with a fixed quote and a camera and device placement plan. The fee is credited in full against any booking of £500 or more.
For a business, Commercial Survey & Spec is £199 inc. VAT, with a full site walk, risk review, device schedule and written specification, credited against the installation. That specification is also useful to show an insurer.
You can browse all options on our CCTV and security services page, or see the other boroughs we cover on the areas page.