SmartyHomy
If you rent, you have probably talked yourself out of a smart home at least once. “I can’t drill, I can’t rewire, and I have to put everything back exactly how I found it when I leave.” That fear is real — and it is also completely solvable.
This is the kit I would buy again if I moved into a new rental tomorrow. Every item goes in without a drill, a screw, or an electrician, and every item comes off cleanly. When the lease ends, the whole setup goes into a single box and moves with you. Nothing is left behind, and your deposit stays yours.
I have run this exact kit in my own rented flat. Some links may be affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep this site running. Everything here is tested first, recommended second.
The kit at a glance
| Piece | What it does | How it attaches | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The brain (Home Assistant) | Runs everything locally | Sits in a box, plugs in | $$ |
| Smart plugs (×2–3) | Automate any lamp or appliance | Into the existing socket | $ |
| Retrofit smart lock | Keyless entry | Adhesive / over the existing thumb-turn | $$$ |
| Stick-on door & motion sensors | Trigger automations | 3M adhesive, peel off later | $ |
| Screw-in smart bulbs | Smart lighting | Into existing light sockets | $ |
| Water leak sensor | Protects your deposit | Just set it on the floor | $ |
A sensible starter version of this kit lands around $150–250 / €150–230 depending on how many plugs and bulbs you buy. Start small and add as you go — that is the whole point of a reversible setup.
1. The brain: Home Assistant on a small box
Everything below is more useful when one local system ties it together. Home Assistant runs on a cheap Raspberry Pi or an old mini PC, keeps your data in your home, and keeps working even if the internet drops. Best of all for renters: it is literally a box. When you move, you unplug it and take it with you. Nothing is installed into the flat.
2. Smart plugs — the easiest first step
A smart plug is the lowest-risk way to start: plug it into the wall, plug a lamp or fan into it, done. No permission, no holes. Pick Zigbee or Matter models so they run locally through Home Assistant rather than depending on a manufacturer’s cloud. Two or three of these instantly make your lighting and small appliances automatable.
3. A retrofit (no-drill) smart lock
Modern retrofit locks mount on the inside of your existing door — the outside never changes and your landlord’s key still works. Adhesive-mounted models need zero tools and peel off in five minutes when you leave. This is usually the most expensive single piece, but it is also the one that makes a rental feel like a real smart home.
4. Stick-on door and motion sensors
Small contact and motion sensors attach with 3M adhesive pads — no screws, no marks when removed. They are the trigger for almost every good automation: lights that come on when you walk in, an alert if a door opens while you are away, heating that backs off when a room is empty.
5. Screw-in smart bulbs
Smart bulbs go straight into the light sockets that are already there. Nothing about the fixture changes; you just swap the bulb. When you move, you swap them back and take the smart ones with you.
6. A water leak sensor (protect your deposit)
This one is pure insurance. Set a small leak sensor under the sink, behind the washing machine, or near the water heater. If it ever detects water, you get an instant alert — and catching a leak early can be the difference between a quiet fix and losing your deposit.
How it all comes together
On its own, each piece is handy. Connected through Home Assistant, they become a system: the door sensor turns on the smart bulbs when you get home, the smart plugs shut off the iron when you leave, and the leak sensor pings your phone before a small drip becomes a big problem. All of it local, all of it reversible.
Where to start
If you only buy one thing this month, make it a couple of smart plugs plus the Home Assistant box — that is the foundation everything else plugs into. Add the lock, sensors, and bulbs as your budget allows. Browse the rest of the renter-friendly guides for specific product picks on each category.
Every item in this kit is 100% reversible. Build the smart home you actually want — and take it with you.