Table of Contents
Smart home tech offers comfort, convenience, and security, which is all well and good if you’re a homeowner. If you rent, however, you can’t just start drilling holes in the wall and rewiring electrical systems to install smart thermostats or security cameras. Making changes without landlord approval is a good way to lose your security deposit or even get evicted, so it’s crucial to ensure you are playing by the rules when customizing your space.
Fortunately, smart device manufacturers have realized renters represent a vast market, and now design their products with renter-friendly upgrades in mind. You can enjoy the same convenience, comfort, and energy savings as homeowners, without making any permanent modifications and ticking off your landlord. Even better, these upgrades are portable, so you can take them with you when you move.
Types of Smart Renter-Friendly Upgrades
When choosing smart devices for rental properties, look for devices that either plug into outlets or are adhesive-mounted. Wireless devices are typically more renter-friendly than wired-in products. Avoid any devices that require professional installation, as these are unlikely to gain landlord approval.
Renter-friendly upgrades include:
- Smart plugs that let you control lamps, fans, and other electronics remotely via apps or voice commands.
- Smart bulbs, adhesive LED strip lighting, and standalone lamps with voice or app-controlled dimming, color changes, and schedules.
- Smart speakers or a smart hub that lets you control connected smart devices with voice commands.
- Video doorbells let you see and speak with visitors from your phone.
- Portable security systems with standalone or adhesive-mounted cameras and sensors to help keep you safe and secure.
-
Lighting & Ambience
Smart lights are one of the easiest ways to add convenience to your apartment. They’re also either portable (e.g., smart bulbs and smart lamps) or easily removable (e.g., LED strips). They’re a popular choice for people dipping their toes into smart home waters for the first time, and they let you quickly create a personalized vibe without modifying your space.
Smart Bulbs
Smart bulbs are the simplest rental-friendly upgrades on the market. Installation is as simple as replacing existing light bulbs. Many are voice-activated and often include extras like built-in speakers and motion sensors.
Philips Hue is a leader in smart bulbs, which are compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and other smart ecosystems. Key features include adaptive lighting settings, multicolor effects, scheduling, motion sensors, and the ability to sync lighting to movies or music. EcoSmart, another major player in the smart lighting market, offers a 60-Watt LED light bulb with Bluetooth-compatible speakers, while Toggled offers smart LED light tubes in 2-, 3-, and 4-foot lengths.
Standalone Lamps
Philips Hue and Govee also offer smart table and floor lamps in a wide variety of styles, allowing you to personalize your living space. Examples include the Philips Hue Go Portable Light, the minimalist GoVee Smart Floor Lamp, and the Govee Tree Floor Lamp.
LED Strips
LED smart strips lack the portability of smart bulbs and standalone lamps, but their adhesive backing makes them easy to install without damaging walls and equally easy to remove. Ideal for ambient lighting or extra task lighting, LED smart lights connect easily to smart ecosystems or can be controlled through phone apps. Govee, Ecosmart, and Philips Hue all offer smart LED strip lighting.
-
Comfort & Climate Control
Smart climate devices designed for homeowners generally require more installation than the average landlord is willing to approve. Still, you can find rental-friendly upgrades that don’t require installing a new wall thermostat. Smart plug-in thermostats are compatible with window units and space heaters, allowing you to set schedules and control energy efficiency. Other options include energy-efficient space heaters with built-in smart timers or connecting window AC units to smart plugs for better control and scheduling. Temporarily switching out HVAC vents for smart vents also helps you control your environment.
To ensure consistent performance across your plug-in thermostats, smart AC units, and space heaters, run a Wi-Fi speed test to ensure your network can handle the increased bandwidth demand.
-
Security & Peace of Mind
Smart security doesn’t require running wires or drilling holes anymore, thanks to stand-alone cameras and adhesive mounts. You can purchase video doorbells with no-drill mounting kits or find universal adhesive mounts for major brands like Ring or Blink. Many smart locks use existing deadbolts and can be installed without requiring permanent changes. (Video doorbells and smart locks do temporarily change the appearance of the door, so it’s prudent to ask your landlord for permission before adding these security devices.
Inside the rental property, you can use security systems designed for easy installation and portability. Look for starter kits that include motion detectors and door/window sensors, as well as cameras and a base station. Such systems offer discreet, small devices that can be easily hidden around the property. Use them in combination with your smart lighting, which can be scheduled to turn on and off in ways that suggest someone is home when you’re out.
-
Entertainment & Everyday Ease
Smart entertainment is easy to add to a rental, as most entertainment devices don’t require any changes to the rental unit. Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant let you control lights, speakers, and televisions with voice commands, so you can dim the lights, turn on the TV, or play music. Streaming services improve your viewing options, sound bars add depth to your movies or video games, and many smart televisions now come with built-in apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services.
Smart Home Setup Tips
- Check your internet speed regularly, especially after moving your internet service. Smart devices need a strong, consistent network signal.
- For larger spaces, use either dual-band routers, Mesh Node systems, or both to extend your network and eliminate dead zones.
- If your network struggles to handle multiple devices, prioritize the most essential devices in your router settings.
- Reposition your router for stronger signals if needed.
- Track how many devices are in use to see if they’re impacting network performance.
Renters and Smart Devices: An Ideal Partnership
Renters don’t have to miss out on the benefits of smart home living. Rental-friendly upgrades provide the comfort, safety, and convenience of smart homes without the commitment, and pack up easily when you move. Start small—lighting, a smart TV, or a security system—and upgrade your internet service to ensure your wifi can keep up to build a smart setup that travels with you!