Smart Home Automation for Renters - Google Store

Smart homes are for renters, too.

Smart cameras, speakers, locks, thermostats, Wi-Fi, and more let you optimize your home – even if you rent it.

A happy man with short dreadlocks holds a toddler in his lap inside a brightly lit living room. On a small white table beside them, a Google Nest Hub smart display is showing a video feed of a person in a yard.
A happy man with short dreadlocks holds a toddler in his lap inside a brightly lit living room. On a small white table beside them, a Google Nest Hub smart display is showing a video feed of a person in a yard.
Takeaways
  • Renters can keep a close eye on their home from anywhere with Nest Cams
  • Easily manage all your compatible smart home devices in the Google Home app
  • Supercharge it with a Google Home Premium subscription

You may be stuck with your landlord’s paint color, but as a renter, you can still set up a great smart home.

Just like homeowners, renters can enjoy the convenience, ease, and security of

home automation
with Google’s smart home devices. 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
. 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
. With intelligent alerts from your
Nest Doorbell
, you’ll also know the minute a visitor or a package arrives.

Lock and unlock the doors of your rental from anywhere with the
Yale Smart 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.

GStore Article 76 Home-Automations-for-Renters-insert-2
More great news! All your
Nest devices can be controlled easily
through the Google Home app. 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. 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. You can also use your
Google Home Speaker
with Gemini to manage your smart devices, stream your favorite songs, or share messages throughout the house using just your voice.
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
.

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.

“People are probably most surprised that we had the old thermostat replaced with Nest since we’re renters.”
— Nicole James, Nest user
“People are probably most surprised that we had the old thermostat replaced with Nest since we’re renters.”
— Nicole James, Nest user
Google Home

Security that moves with you

Nest Cams are easy to set up and take down, so if you move somewhere else, they can go with you – even if you rent.
Google Home

Security that moves with you

Nest Cams are easy to set up and take down, so if you move somewhere else, they can go with you – even if you rent.
Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
Google Home makes entertaining more personal.

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.
The Nest Learning Thermostat brings toasty winter mornings to a converted loft.
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.,, 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. 

A Nest Learning Thermostat, 4th gen shown set to 70 degrees, and alongside the Nest Temperature Sensor
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.” 

Google Home Premium streamlines daily life

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.,

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., 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. 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
or other compatible smart speaker to your smart security.
A close-up of a smartphone screen displaying a conversation with an AI assistant. The user asks in a blue chat bubble: "Did something eat my plants?" The AI assistant responds below with a text summary: "Yes, rabbits ate plants on September 29 and 28. On September 29, two rabbits were seen eating colorful plants in the garden multiple times. One brown and gray rabbit was also seen in the garden on September 28." Below the summary, under the date "Mon, Sep 29," is an event notification from a camera feed. It reads, "Rabbits nibble plants, 2:10 PM • Garden Bed," and includes a small thumbnail image of a rabbit among green plants.

It’s effortless to manage your devices thanks to the Help me create feature included with a Standard plan. Set up automations in seconds by using natural language to type what you need into the Google Home app. 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
– 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.

Discover Help at Home.

  • A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.
    A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.

    Welcome to Google Home Premium, the new era of Nest Aware.

  • A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.

    Wired or battery-powered: Which Nest Cam is right for you?

  • A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

    Curious about smart home devices? Start here.

  • Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor: A guide to Google’s wired security cameras.

  • 4 ways to keep your home running smoothly.

  • Make your movie night even better.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Meet the even more helpful Google Home.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

A dream smart home, by Google Nest.

A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.
A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.

Welcome to Google Home Premium, the new era of Nest Aware.

A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.

Wired or battery-powered: Which Nest Cam is right for you?

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Curious about smart home devices? Start here.

Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor: A guide to Google’s wired security cameras.

4 ways to keep your home running smoothly.

Make your movie night even better.

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and offers from Google Store.

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