Best Smart Home Devices for Apartments and Renters (No Drilling Required)

Here's the problem with being a renter who wants a smart home: landlords lose their minds if you drill holes, your lease probably forbids "permanent modifications," and you're going to move eventually anyway, so investing in built-in smart tech feels pointless.

But here's the thing—you can absolutely have a smart apartment without touching a drill, violating your lease, or leaving behind expensive hardware when you move. The trick is knowing which devices are genuinely renter-friendly and which ones are just pretending to be.

I've lived in four different rentals over the past six years and built smart setups in every single one without losing a security deposit. Let me show you exactly what works.

The Golden Rules for Renter Smart Homes

Before buying anything, understand these non-negotiables:

1. Nothing permanent. If it requires drilling, hardwiring, or changing existing fixtures, skip it. You're not replacing light switches or installing wired cameras.

2. Take it with you. Every device you buy should be portable. When you move, pack it up and install it in the new place in minutes.

3. Reversible installation. Adhesive mounts, command strips, tension rods—anything that comes off clean is your friend. Your landlord should never know you had smart tech.

4. No modifications to existing systems. Don't replace thermostats (unless your landlord approves), don't swap out doorbell wiring, don't mess with the electrical panel.

With those rules in mind, here's what actually works.

Smart Locks: The August Approach

Most smart locks require you to replace your entire deadbolt. That's a non-starter for renters. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock takes a different approach: it installs over your existing deadbolt on the interior side only.

How it works: Your exterior lock and keys stay exactly the same. August attaches to the thumbturn inside your door using a simple mounting plate. It takes 10-15 minutes to install with just a screwdriver. When you move out, unscrew it, reinstall the original thumbturn, done. Zero permanent changes.

What you get: Lock and unlock from your phone anywhere. Auto-lock when you leave (uses phone location). Give temporary access codes to guests, cleaners, or whoever needs to get in while you're not there. Track who enters and when through the activity log. Voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant.

The newer model is 45% smaller than previous versions, so it doesn't look like a robot stuck to your door. It's all-metal construction, comes in black or silver, and has built-in WiFi (no bridge needed).

Real user experience: People love that their landlord can still use their key—the smart lock is completely invisible from outside. The auto-unlock as you approach with your phone works most of the time (Bluetooth range can be wonky sometimes). Battery life is around 3-4 months on four AA batteries.

The downside: It's not cheap. And it only works with single-cylinder deadbolts (most US apartments have these, but check yours first). Also, if your deadbolt is old and sticky, the motor might struggle to turn it smoothly.

Video Doorbells Without Wiring or Drilling

Traditional video doorbells require both drilling into the door frame and connecting to your doorbell wiring. Terrible for renters. Ring Battery Doorbells changed that game completely.

The setup: Battery-powered, so no wiring. Ring sells a No-Drill Mount (about $15-20) that uses heavy-duty adhesive strips instead of screws. The adhesive is industrial-strength 3M tape that holds securely but peels off clean when you remove it properly.

Installation literally takes five minutes: stick the mount to the wall, screw the doorbell into the mount, connect it to WiFi. When you move, peel off the mount (heat it slightly with a hairdryer first to soften the adhesive), and you're done.

What you get: HD video of whoever's at your door. Motion detection sends alerts to your phone. Two-way audio lets you talk to delivery people or yell at porch pirates. Night vision works surprisingly well. Optional cloud recording with Ring Protect subscription (otherwise you just get live view).

Battery life: Depends heavily on usage. In high-traffic areas with lots of motion events, expect 1-2 months. Low-traffic spots can go 3-4 months. Charging takes about 5 hours.

Alternatives: The Arlo Essential Doorbell and Eufy Video Doorbell also work without wiring and have similar no-drill mounting options. Eufy offers local storage (no subscription needed), which some people prefer over Ring's cloud model.

The catch: Without existing doorbell wiring, you lose the actual chime inside your apartment. Ring sells plug-in chimes separately, or you just rely on phone notifications (which honestly works fine).

Smart Plugs: The Gateway Drug

If you're only buying one type of smart device, make it smart plugs. They transform any dumb appliance into a smart one without touching the appliance itself.

The concept: Plug the smart plug into your wall outlet, plug your lamp/fan/coffee maker/whatever into the smart plug, control it from your phone or voice. That's it. When you move, unplug them and take them with you.

Best options: TP-Link Kasa smart plugs are the most reliable and affordable. The slim models don't block both outlets. Some track energy usage, which helps you identify power-sucking appliances. The outdoor-rated versions work for patio lights or balcony fans.

What people actually use them for:

Coffee makers that auto-brew when you wake up
Lamps that turn on at sunset or when you arrive home
Space heaters on schedules (turn off after 2 hours automatically)
Phone chargers that cut power when battery hits 100% (prolongs battery life)
Fans that turn on when temperature exceeds a certain threshold

Power strips: TP-Link makes smart power strips with individually controllable outlets. Game changer for entertainment centers—turn off the TV, gaming console, and speakers together with one voice command or automation.

The integration angle: Smart plugs work with Alexa, Google, Apple HomeKit (check compatibility). Create routines like "Good Morning" that turns on the coffee maker, opens smart blinds, and starts the bathroom fan automatically.

Smart Lighting That Doesn't Touch Your Fixtures

Landlords get twitchy when you mess with light fixtures. Smart bulbs solve this by replacing only the bulb, not the fixture.

Philips Hue is the gold standard but expensive. Wyze Bulbs are shockingly good for the money. LIFX bulbs don't require a hub (WiFi built into each bulb), which is nice for simplicity.

What you can do: Change colors and brightness from your phone. Set schedules (lights on at sunset, off at 11 p.m.). Create scenes ("Movie Time" dims to 10% warm white, "Focus Mode" brightens to 100% cool white). Sync with music or movies.

Important: When you move, just unscrew your smart bulbs and screw in the cheap regular bulbs they give you at hardware stores. Takes 5 minutes for a whole apartment. Reinstall your smart bulbs in the new place.

For lamps: Smart bulbs work in any lamp with standard sockets. For ceiling fixtures controlled by wall switches, smart bulbs can be annoying—if someone flips the physical switch off, the bulb loses power and can't be controlled remotely. Educate roommates or use switch covers that discourage physical toggling.

LED strips: Smart LED strips stick to surfaces with adhesive backing. Great for under-cabinet kitchen lighting, behind desks, or accent lighting. Most peel off clean without damaging paint. Use them to add light where landlords didn't provide enough.

Smart Blinds: The No-Drill Revolution

Window treatments that don't require drilling into the window frame used to be impossible. Not anymore.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt attaches to existing horizontal blinds using a clip system—no tools, no drilling, completely removable. It motorizes your existing blinds so you can open/close them from your phone or voice.

IKEA Fyrtur makes battery-powered smart blinds that mount using brackets you can install with command strips or tension fit (depending on window type). When you move, pop off the brackets, patch any tiny holes if needed.

DIY retrofit kits: Companies like Soma Smart Shades sell motors that attach to your existing roller shades or horizontal blinds using clips and tension mounts. The motor runs on solar power (has a tiny solar panel that sticks to your window).

Why this matters: Automating blinds saves serious energy by closing during the hottest part of summer days or opening to let in sunlight on cold winter mornings. Plus, it makes it look like someone's home when you're on vacation (security theater, but effective).

Reality check: These solutions work best on standard window sizes. Weird-shaped or extra-large windows might need custom solutions that aren't renter-friendly. Also, make sure your blinds aren't too heavy for the motors.

Portable Smart Thermostats (Sometimes)

This one's tricky because most thermostats are hardwired and replacing them violates leases. But some renters get permission from landlords because smart thermostats save energy (and therefore money for whoever pays utilities).

If your lease allows it or you can get written permission, Google Nest Learning Thermostat or Ecobee SmartThermostat are easy to install and completely reversible. You save the old thermostat, install the smart one (usually just matching colored wires), and swap back when you move out.

If your landlord says no: Portable smart space heaters and smart fans controlled via smart plugs give you some temperature control without touching the main system. Not as elegant, but it works.

Security Cameras That Don't Require Mounting

Renters want security cameras but can't drill into walls or ceilings. Battery-powered cameras with magnetic or adhesive mounts fix this.

Eufy Indoor Cam has a stand that sits on shelves or desks. Battery-powered Blink Outdoor Cameras use small mounts that stick with adhesive or screw in (you can use command strips instead of screws). Wyze Cam is dirt cheap and sits on any flat surface.

For outdoor use: The adhesive mounts work on walls, but for balconies and patios, cameras with stands or clamps work better. Some wrap around railings or poles without permanent installation.

Local vs. cloud storage: Cameras like Eufy and Reolink offer local storage (SD card in the camera), so you don't pay monthly subscriptions. Ring and Arlo rely on cloud subscriptions. Pick based on your budget and privacy preferences.

Smart Speakers and Hubs: The Control Center

This is the easiest category—smart speakers literally just plug into outlets and sit on surfaces.

Amazon Echo or Google Nest speakers control everything else on this list via voice. The displays (Echo Show or Nest Hub) add visual control and work great as smart home dashboards.

Which ecosystem to choose: If you're already deep in Amazon's world, go Alexa. If you use Google services heavily, go Google. If you're in Apple's ecosystem, HomePod works but has fewer compatible devices.

Reality check: You don't need a smart speaker to have a smart home—everything works from phone apps. But voice control is genuinely convenient when your hands are full or you're being lazy.

Water Leak Detectors: The Security Deposit Saver

This isn't sexy, but it's important. Water leaks in rentals are nightmares—you're liable for damage even if it wasn't your fault.

Govee WiFi Water Sensors are tiny, battery-powered pucks that scream and send phone alerts the instant they detect water. Stick them under sinks, behind toilets, near water heaters, under washing machines.

When a leak happens, you know immediately instead of discovering it days later when there's mold and structural damage. These have literally saved people thousands in security deposit disputes.

The Upgrade: YoLink water sensors pair with valve controllers that automatically shut off water when leaks are detected. The valve controller clamps onto your existing shut-off valve (no permanent modification) and closes it if sensors trigger. This requires landlord approval but could save an entire apartment from flooding.

What About Smart Appliances?

The truth: unless you're in a fully furnished luxury rental, you're probably not replacing the fridge, oven, or washing machine with smart versions.

But if your apartment comes with dumb appliances, smart plugs can add basic functionality (schedule the coffee maker, remotely turn off the slow cooker). And portable smart kitchen gadgets like WiFi-enabled instant pots, air fryers, or kettles work anywhere you live.

The "Take It With You" Strategy

The beauty of this setup is portability. When you move:

Unscrew August lock, reinstall original thumbturn (5 minutes)
Peel off Ring doorbell mount after heating with hairdryer (2 minutes)
Unplug all smart plugs and pack them (5 minutes)
Unscrew smart bulbs, replace with cheap bulbs (10 minutes)
Remove smart blind motors and brackets (varies, usually 10-20 minutes)
Pack up cameras, speakers, sensors (5 minutes)

Total pack-up time: under an hour. You've just saved yourself hundreds or thousands in abandoned hardware. Install it all in your new place in an afternoon.

The Budget Breakdown

You don't need everything at once. Here's a phased approach:

Phase 1 - Essentials (under budget):

2-3 smart plugs for lamps and coffee maker
2-3 smart bulbs for main living areas
1 smart speaker for voice control

Phase 2 - Security (mid-budget):

Smart lock for front door
Video doorbell
1-2 indoor cameras
Water leak sensors

Phase 3 - Comfort (higher budget):

Smart blinds for main windows
Additional smart lights throughout
Smart thermostat (with landlord permission)

Phase 4 - Full Automation (enthusiast level):

Complete lighting throughout
More cameras and sensors
Smart appliances
Entertainment system integration

Bottom line: Renting doesn't mean settling for a dumb home. With the right devices, you can automate, secure, and control your apartment without risking your security deposit or leaving expensive tech behind when you move.

Start small—grab a couple smart plugs and bulbs to test the waters. If you like it (you will), expand from there. The key is picking devices that are genuinely portable and install without permanent modifications.

Your landlord will never know. And when you move into your next place (or eventually buy), you take the whole setup with you. That's the smart renter approach.

Welcome to apartment living in 2025. It's finally smart.