Smart homes are for renters, too.

Just like homeowners, renters can enjoy the convenience, ease, and security of home automation with Google’s smart home devices.¹ Many Google products can be added to your space easily and without invasive installations. Plus, the Google Home app makes setup a breeze.

Get a bigger, better picture of what’s happening at home with high-resolution video and an ultra-wide, ultra-tall field of view from the new Nest Cams.² Setup is simple thanks to an included mount that lets you pop it on a wall or shelf. And you’ll get notifications about activity in key areas, like your front door, with Activity Zones.³ With intelligent alerts from your Nest Doorbell, you’ll also know the minute a visitor or a package arrives.⁴

Lock and unlock the doors of your rental from anywhere with the Nest x Yale Lock, a tamper-proof, key-free smart lock. For extra reassurance, create an automation that secures your locks as soon as you leave. 

It’s easy to make any home feel more comfortable with temperature control from Nest thermostats. Plus, by setting up energy-saving routines – like turning down the heat when you’re out – renters can save an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.⁵

More great news! All your Nest devices can be controlled easily through the Google Home app.¹ You can use it to manage your compatible smart home system with your Pixel phone, tablet, watch, or other devices. The Google Pixel Tablet and Nest Hub displays have a dashboard that lets you see what’s happening across all Google Home devices.⁶ And because the Google Home app works with over 80,000 compatible products, it allows you to create all kinds of automated routines with ease – like scheduling your lights to dim at night or your smart vacuum to automatically turn on in the morning.⁴ Coming in late October 2025, you can also use your Nest speaker with Gemini to manage your smart devices, stream your favorite songs, or share messages throughout the house using just your voice.⁷

Want to supercharge your smart home? Try a Google Home Premium subscription and enjoy advanced camera security, simple automations, and access to Gemini, which lets you get expert help, chat naturally, and brainstorm ideas. Choose from the Standard or Advanced plans to unlock features built with Gemini for your Nest Cam, Nest Doorbell, and Google Home Speaker. Try either plan out for 30 days when you purchase a new Nest device, or for six months when you buy a Google Home Speaker (coming in spring 2026).

Check out a few examples of how apartment dwellers are using Google Home to make their homes smarter with Nest devices, the Google Home app, and some helpful, easy smart home automations with Google Home Premium.⁴

Renting doesn’t mean you have to give up ambience, either. Erik Robertson moved across the country to a rental home in Connecticut last year with his partner – and made sure to pack smart lights and smart switches to help them start their lives in a new city.

Robertson finds his Google Home setup indispensable for home entertaining. When planning ahead for guests, he presets the temperature for when they arrive – usually a little cooler than when it’s just him and his partner. If he’s busy in the kitchen prepping food, he uses the Google Home app to set the lights and turn on the music before everyone arrives.⁴

Since moving into their converted loft in Brooklyn three years ago, Nicole James and her partner have turned their dwelling into a smart home, with smart light bulbs and smart switches. Their devices and other smart home essentials, like Nest Wifi Pro, are compatible with Google Home thanks to Matter, a new open standard that helps them work together more easily than ever.^6,8,9 And James is able to install everything without running into any renter rules. 

For James, switching out her apartment’s thermostat for a Nest Learning Thermostat has made a big difference in her comfort. She sets it to turn down the temperature at night so it’s chilly when she’s sleeping, and then begin to warm up in the morning so she wakes up to a cozy place. 

One of the things that makes Nest thermostats so convenient for renters is that they require no additional wiring in most homes.¹⁰ Most people set theirs up in 60 minutes or less – usually less time than it takes for your landlord to text you back if you have a question. Just make sure the Nest thermostat you choose is compatible with your HVAC system first. And when it’s time to move, uninstall it and take it with you to your next place. Nest thermostats are designed to be easy to install for most heating and cooling systems, but if you don’t want to set it up yourself, you can book an installation.

“For a converted loft with six total electrical outlets, it’s pretty high-tech,” says James. “People are probably most surprised that we had the old thermostat replaced with Nest since we’re renters, but a drafty old loft means very chilly winter mornings, so heat that starts up before I’m awake is non-negotiable.” 

Take your smart home to the next level with Google Home Premium. Get added security, advanced smart home controls, and help with everything from everyday tasks to brainstorming ideas from Gemini on your devices with a Standard or Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium.^1,4

With a Standard plan, you’ll enjoy added reassurance from your Nest Cams. Feel confident your space is secure, even when you’re not there, thanks to familiar face alerts and garage door detection.^11,12 When there’s activity at the front door, you’ll know if it’s a roommate, friend, or family member whose face and name you’ve saved, and whether your garage door is secure. And if you need to go back in time, you can review 30 days of event video history.

There’s even more to explore with an Advanced plan: When you want to revisit specific moments – like the night your roommates surprised you for your birthday – you can easily and quickly search the event summaries of 60 days of video history and 10 days of continuous video recording.⁶ Get daily summaries of what you missed while you were out, or search your camera history with a simple voice request when you add a Google Home Speaker (coming in spring 2026) or other compatible smart speaker to your smart security.

It’s effortless to manage your devices thanks to the Help me create feature included with a Standard plan.¹³ Set up automations in seconds by using natural language to type what you need into the Google Home app.⁴ Maybe you share a wall with loud neighbors. Maintain your peace and quiet by having Gemini help you create an automation that starts a white noise playlist every evening at 10 PM. If you’re the noisy one, create a routine to lower the speaker volume after 10 PM on weeknights. And when you need automation inspiration, choose from personalized recommendations based on your connected devices.

Want to brainstorm an idea or learn a new topic? Use Gemini Live on your Google Home Speaker (coming in spring 2026) – available with a Standard plan of Google Home Premium. Perhaps you want plant recommendations for a shady balcony. Ask “What low-maintenance plants will thrive in a small, shaded space?” Gemini can offer advice about native plants that don’t need much sun, and help you understand pruning and watering schedules.

Renting may limit you from completely customizing your home, but Nest products, Google Home, and Google Home Premium help you create a space that feels like it’s yours.