Tenants can benefit greatly from a smart home as well home security devices theirs. Fortunately, today’s technology is small, it can easily avoid screws and other non-restrictive installations, too allows you to collect and transport them when needed. I’ve narrowed down the best options for a tenant affordable devices which is very easy to set up and makes a noticeable difference in your home.
So check your lease just to be sure, then invest in a few of these options to add some well-deserved flair to your rental home.
Read more: 11 Home Security Myths People Still Believe (But Shouldn’t)
A universal smart plug or two
Smart plugs are an inexpensive way to add automation to the home.
Because smart plugs only require a standard household outlet, tenants can use them at home without worrying about causing permanent damage. Smart plugs can lend their intelligence to anything from lamps and battery chargers to fountains and night lights.
Using their apps, you can set schedules, view energy usage and create routes so that devices only turn on in certain situations. View our full list of the best smart plugs here. Some of our favorite brands include GE Cync, HBN, Kasa and Leviton.
Compatible smart speaker
The Amazon Echo Spot is a great speaker, and the addition of a clock for simple visual cues is great.
Smart speakers from Amazon Echos to Apple HomePods come with voice assistant compatibility and ways to connect to favorite music services like Spotify so tenants can listen to their favorite songs on demand — or just ask about the daily traffic.
Smart speakers can also connect to other smart home devices to be controlled with voice commands. And despite their small size, they are great at filling a room with sound when they need to. Some models double as TV speaker bars. Check out our favorites here, from the biggest models to the smallest.
You can also upgrade your gift to a smart display, similar but with a screen for video instructions, TV shows and more.
Smart bulbs for key areas
Smart bulbs add everything from mood lighting to an extra alarm.
Smart bulbs plug into standard bulb sockets and most models these days don’t need an extra hub to work. You can simply screw them in, bring up an app to connect and control them the way you want. These bulbs are perfect for dimming and brightening throughout the day, setting up occasional mood lighting or connecting to alarms and other smart home scenarios. We’ve rounded up the best smart lights here, from brands like Govee, Philips Hue and Wiz, with options under $20.
Independent air quality monitor
The SwitchBot air quality monitor is the cheapest way we’ve found to monitor the air quality in your home.
Air quality is important for health, reducing allergies and getting a good night’s sleep. But tenants often don’t know what the air quality is like in their apartment or rental house. You can help them with a high-tech dehumidifier or, for a cheaper option, this portable air quality and humidity monitor from SwitchBot.
Arlo all-in-one sensor security system
Arlo’s do-everything sensors are perfect for small spaces.
Small security systems can be a great convenience for employers but not everyone has the time or energy to set them up and use them properly. This time we like the Arlo security system, which has 8-in-1 sensors that can do a little bit of everything wherever you put them, from detecting open doors to checking for leaks.
Just a few of these Arlo sensors ($100 total) can fill many different roles in a rental. If tenants move into a permanent home, they can add a compatible doorbell and Arlo fob, too. Just remember that features like smart notifications and video storage require registration.
Affordable Ikea security sensors
Ikea smart devices are simple, cheap and effective.
If rent is eating up a lot of your money, you probably aren’t interested in spending a lot of money on home security technology. Ikea also helps with its new line of low-budget home security sensors. I have tried them all, they work very well and you can buy one sensor at a time or together depending on what you need.
Ikea models include an access sensor, motion sensor, leak detector, temperature/humidity detector and carbon dioxide tracker/clock, a small combo kit perfect for an apartment or rental. Most sensors are available for around $10, or you can pick up a whole kit for around $65.
Best of all, Ikea’s sensors are fully compatible with Matter, so they can work with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home. The catch is that you need a compatible hub, such as a Nest smart display, Apple HomePod mini or the new Apple TV, Echo smart speaker, etc. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy an additional Ikea hub for about $100 (but still, it’s still the cheapest DIY security setup I’ve found).
Independent camera
The affordable Tapo camera is a great standalone model.
While installing a security camera may be out of the question for tenants, they can still set up their shelf or tabletop camera to keep an eye on their most valuable items. You can view our full indoor camera list here but one of our favorites is this one the Tapo 2K pan/tilt cam ($35)inexpensive and requires no registration to get the most out of it.
Multimode air fryer
It looks good. It works very well. What more could you ask for?
Although it’s more smart around the home than smart technology, the countertop air fryer serves all kinds of quick heating needs. It allows even beginners to cook food like hamburgers, fries, chicken wings, pizza and many other delicious, fast foods in a much healthier way than traditional frying. Many models allow you to slow-roast, bake, reheat and more, making them the perfect centerpiece for a small kitchen.
Check out our full list of the best air fryers here, featuring popular brands like Ninja, Cosori and Gourmia.
A smart little safe
Lockly’s biometric safe is an excellent alternative to small home safes.
Tenants are probably not allowed to bolt the house safe to the floor or wall but luckily, they can still benefit from a smart little safe to store valuables, cash, documents and even weapons. One of our favorite models is this Lockly smart safe with fingerprint access, Bluetooth controls and a rotating number pad. We tried to force our way into it but no luck!
For the most comprehensive advice for renters, see safety tips when living with annoying roommates, the best home security systems for renters and what to do if you rent or buy a home and find an unexpected security system.
