Best Home CCTV Systems UK: What Installers Fit on Their Own Houses

The setup installers choose for their own homes

• 4–5 wired PoE cameras: front door + driveway + rear + side passage
• Full-colour night vision on the front cameras — identification after dark is the whole point
• 2K/4MP resolution as standard; 4K only for long driveways or large gardens
• NVR in a cupboard or loft with 2TB surveillance drive (30+ days)
• Phone app (Hik-Connect/DMSS) for live view and playback; notifications filtered to people/vehicles
• Privacy masking configured where views catch neighbours — keeps you on the right side of the ICO

Wired system vs Ring/Eufy/Blink ecosystems

Battery and WiFi cameras win on fitting speed and renter-friendliness, and a video doorbell is genuinely worth having for the door conversation. As the security system, they concede a lot: motion-triggered clips instead of continuous recording (the approach before the trigger is often the evidence), subscription fees for meaningful storage, WiFi and battery dependence, and documented jamming vulnerability. The hybrid most households end up happiest with: wired PoE for coverage and evidence, doorbell camera for the doorstep.

What to pay and what 'cheap' costs later

Professional installation of a 4-camera ColorVu-class system typically lands £600–£2,000 including NVR, storage and app setup — driven by cable routes more than camera count. DIY kits from £200–£600 exist and work, with the predictable trade-offs: visible cables, weaker night performance, no commissioning certificate for insurers, and nobody to call. If budget is tight, fewer good cameras properly placed beat eight cheap ones — start with front and rear, expand later on the same NVR.