You want a smart home. Your landlord wants you to not put holes in their walls. These two things are not as incompatible as they seem. In fact, some of the best smart home devices require zero installation — no drilling, no wiring, no permanent changes. Here are 15 devices that transform a rental apartment into a smart home without risking your security deposit.
The Zero-Modification Devices
These devices don’t touch your apartment’s infrastructure at all. You plug them in, connect to WiFi, and they work. When you move out, you unplug them and take them with you.
1. Smart Plugs (8 to 15 Dollars Each)
The most versatile smart home device for renters. A Kasa smart plug turns any dumb device into a smart one: lamps, fans, coffee makers, space heaters. No hub required, no drilling, no wiring. Plug it in, connect to WiFi, and you have voice control and scheduling. Buy a 4-pack for under 35 dollars and automate your entire living room.
2. Smart Bulbs (10 to 25 Dollars Each)
Screw them into existing fixtures. No electrician needed. Wyze Color Bulbs and Philips Hue White bulbs work in any standard socket. When you move out, put the original bulbs back in and take your smart bulbs with you. For the full bulb breakdown, see our smart bulb guide.
3. Smart Speaker (30 to 50 Dollars)
An Echo Dot or Nest Mini is the command center for your entire rental smart home. Voice control for lights, plugs, thermostat, and routines. No installation — just plug it in and connect to WiFi.
4. Video Doorbell (Wireless)
The Ring Wireless Doorbell runs on a rechargeable battery and mounts with double-sided tape or two small screws. When you move out, fill the screw holes with a tiny bit of spackle — your landlord will never notice. See our Ring vs Wyze comparison for more options.
5. Indoor Security Camera (25 to 40 Dollars)
A Wyze Cam v4 sits on a shelf or mounts with adhesive. No drilling, no wiring. When you move, take it with you. Point it at your front door, your living room, or wherever you want to keep an eye on things.
6. Smart Power Strip (30 to 40 Dollars)
A smart power strip with individual outlet control is like having 6 smart plugs in one device. Turn off individual outlets (TV, game console, cable box) while keeping others on (router, modem). Great for entertainment centers where phantom power adds up. See our devices that pay for themselves guide for the savings math.
The Peel-and-Stick Devices
These attach with adhesive backing or Command strips. When you move out, peel them off and clean the surface. Zero damage.
7. Motion Sensors (15 to 20 Dollars Each)
Aqara motion sensors stick to any wall with the included adhesive. Use them to trigger lights when you walk into a room, arm your security when you leave, or send alerts when unexpected motion is detected. They connect to an Aqara Hub (which plugs into any outlet — no wiring).
8. Door and Window Sensors (15 to 20 Dollars Each)
Aqara door/window sensors stick to your door frame and door with adhesive. They tell you when a door or window opens — useful for security, for knowing if you left the balcony door open, or for triggering “away” automations when you leave.
9. Temperature and Humidity Sensors (15 to 20 Dollars)
Stick a Govee temperature sensor to the wall in any room. Monitor temperature and humidity, set alerts for extreme values, and use the data to optimize your thermostat settings. For renters, this is especially useful if your landlord controls the central heating — you’ll have data to show them when the temperature is out of range.
10. Water Leak Sensors (15 to 25 Dollars Each)
Place Govee water leak sensors under the sink, behind the toilet, and near the washing machine. They sit flat on the floor and send phone alerts when they detect moisture. This is the single most important sensor for renters — you’re not on the hook for water damage to your neighbor’s unit below. See our leak detector guide for placement tips.
The Replace-and-Store Devices
These require swapping out a temporary fixture. When you move out, swap the original back in. Keep the original in a box.
11. Smart Thermostat (With Landlord Permission)
Some landlords will let you replace the thermostat if you agree to swap the original back when you move out. Take a photo of the wiring before you remove the old one, label the wires, and store the original thermostat safely. The Google Nest Thermostat (130 dollars) or Ecobee Lite (150 dollars) are both easy to install and remove. For the full comparison, see our thermostat guide.
12. Smart Light Switches (With Landlord Permission)
If your landlord allows it, smart light switches (like Lutron Caseta) give you the best lighting experience — dimming, scheduling, and voice control without relying on smart bulbs. Swap the original switch back when you move out. Lutron Caseta switches don’t require a neutral wire, making them compatible with older apartments.
13. Smart Lock (With Keypad, Over the Existing Deadbolt)
The August Smart Lock fits over your existing deadbolt — you don’t replace the whole lock, just the interior thumb-turn. When you move out, remove the August and put the original thumb-turn back. Your landlord’s key still works, and the apartment is exactly as you found it.
The “Ask Your Landlord” Devices
These require more permanent changes. Ask your landlord before installing.
14. Smart Blinds (Retrofit)
SwitchBot Curtain motors attach to your existing curtain rods and open and close them automatically. No drilling, no permanent changes. They clamp onto the rod and can be removed in 30 seconds. Set them to open at sunrise and close at sunset, or trigger them with your voice or phone.
15. Smart Smoke Detector (Replace Existing)
Swap your apartment’s smoke detector with a Nest Protect or First Alert smart detector. When you move out, swap the original back. This requires landlord permission in most leases, but many landlords are open to it since a smart smoke detector is an upgrade, not a downgrade.
The Complete Renter Smart Home Setup (Under 300 Dollars)
- 4 smart plugs (Kasa KP125M) — 50 dollars
- 4 smart bulbs (Wyze Color) — 40 dollars
- 1 Echo Dot — 30 dollars
- 1 Aqara Hub + 2 motion sensors + 2 door sensors — 80 dollars
- 2 water leak sensors (Govee) — 30 dollars
- 1 temperature sensor (Govee) — 15 dollars
- 1 indoor camera (Wyze Cam v4) — 36 dollars
Total: about 280 dollars for a complete smart home that controls your lights, monitors your apartment, alerts you to water leaks and open doors, and runs entirely on voice commands and automations. When you move out, you unplug everything, peel off the sensors, and take it all with you. Your landlord gets the apartment back exactly as they left it.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to drill, wire, or modify your rental to have a smart home. Smart plugs, smart bulbs, adhesive sensors, and wireless cameras give you 90 percent of the smart home experience for under 300 dollars, and you take it all with you when you move. Start with the basics (plugs, bulbs, speaker) and add sensors as you need them. Your landlord won’t even know you have a smart home — they’ll just notice you always seem to know when a package arrives.