Smart devices excel at enabling handy new features around the home, but renters encounter an issue — they don’t always have permission to drill holes in walls, change locks or wire in new devices. And owners may create lease rules that give them control over security systems or video doorbells.
Where does that leave renters? With many options, thanks to these gift-worthy devices. Here are our top picks for the renters in our lives.
Read more: 11 Home Security Myths People Still Believe (But Shouldn’t)
A universal smart plug or two
Smart plugs are cheap ways to add automation to a home.
Because smart plugs only need a standard home outlet, renters can use them around the home without worrying about causing any permanent damage. Smart plugs can lend their smarts to anything from lamps and battery chargers to fountains and night-lights.
Using their apps, you can set schedules, view energy consumption and create routines so devices turn on only in certain conditions. View our full list of the best smart plugs here. Some of our favorite brands include GE Cync, HBN, Kasa and Leviton.
A compatible smart speaker
The Amazon Echo Dot With Clock is a great smart speaker, and the addition of a clock for simple visual cues is fantastic.
Smart speakers from Amazon Echos to Apple HomePods come with voice assistant compatibility and ways to connect to favorite music services like Spotify so renters can listen to their favorite songs on demand — or just ask about the daily traffic.
Smart speakers can also connect to a variety of other smart home devices so they can be controlled with voice commands. And despite their small size, they’re pretty good at filling a room with sound when they need to. Some models even double as TV speaker bars. View our favorites here, from large to mini models.
You could also upgrade your gift to a smart display, which is similar but has a screen for video instructions, TV shows and so on.
Smart bulbs for key spots
Smart bulbs add everything from mood lighting to extra alarm oomph.
Smart bulbs screw into standard bulb sockets and most models these days don’t need an extra hub to work. You can just screw them in, bring up the app to connect and control them however you want. These bulbs are great for dimming and brightening through the day, setting mood lighting at certain times or connecting to alarms and other smart home conditions. We’ve collected the best smart lights here, from brands like Govee, Philips Hue and Wiz, with choices at less than $20.
A standalone air quality monitor
SwitchBot’s air quality monitor is the cheapest way we’ve found to watch air quality in your home.
Air quality is important for health, allergy alleviation and a good night’s sleep. But renters don’t usually know what the air quality is like in their apartment or rental house. You can help them out with a high-tech dehumifidier or, for a cheaper option, this portable little air quality and humidity monitor from SwitchBot.
Arlo all-in-one sensor security system
Arlo’s do-everything sensors are great for a small space.
Small security systems can be an excellent fit for renters but not everyone has the time or energy to set them up and use them properly. For this we favor Arlo’s security system, which has 8-in-1 sensors that can do a little bit of everything no matter where you put them, from detecting doors opening to monitoring for leaks.
Just a couple of these Arlo sensors ($100 total) can fill a lot of different roles in a rental. If renters move to a more permanent home, they can add a compatible doorbell and Arlo fob, too. Just keep in mind that features like smart alerts and video storage do require a subscription.
A standalone camera
Tapo’s affordable cam is a great standalone model.
Although mounting a security camera may be out of the question for renters, they can still set up their own shelf or table cam to keep on eye on their most valuable possessions. You can view our full indoor cam list here but one of our favorites is this Tapo 2K pan/tilt cam ($35), which is inexpensive and doesn’t require a subscription to get the most out of it.
A multimode air fryer
It looks good. It works great. What more could you ask for?
Although it’s more smart home-adjacent than smart tech, a countertop air fryer serves all kinds of speedy-heating needs. It lets even beginners cook meals like hamburgers, fries, chicken wings, pizza and many other tasty, speedy meals in a way that’s much healthier than traditional frying. Most models also let you slow roast, bake, reheat and more, making them a nice centerpiece for a small kitchen.
Check out our full list of the best air fryers here, with popular brands like Ninja, Cosori and Gourmia.
A small smart safe
Lockly’s biometric safe is an excellent option for smaller home safes.
Renters probably aren’t allowed to bolt a home safe to the floor or wall but fortunately, they can still benefit from a smaller smart 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 touchpad. We tried forcing our way into it and had no luck!
For more complete renter advice, take a look at security tips if you’re living with troublesome 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.
