Smart home technology is changing the way homeowners protect and manage their homes. However, when renting a house or an apartment, you may not have access to the same smart home devices as homeowners. Don’t fret! Just because you’re renting does not mean that you have to be left out of the smart home technology club.

The five best doorbell cameras for renters and landlords are:

  • Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video DoorbellYale Lock Door ViewerBlink Video Doorbelleufy Security Video DoorbellRemoBell Wireless Video Doorbell

Check out your options for smart doorbells in your apartment and some installation tips to ensure you stay compliant with your property manager’s requirements. Most can be used without making any adjustments to the structure of your home.

The 5 Best Smart Doorbells for People Living in Apartments

When you live in an apartment, you won’t have as much freedom for smart home technology as homeowners do. You may not be allowed to drill walls, and you might share walls with other tenants. However, you still have some great options if you want to install a smart doorbell in your unit. 

If interested, you can also check out some other video doorbells we love. Here are our favorite doorbells for apartments.

Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell

The Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell is the best doorbell camera for renters and landlords all around. You don’t even need to have an existing doorbell to use it. Here are some reasons why it’s the best:

  • There’s a wired and wire-free versionNight vision and 180-degree view with HDTwo-way audioNo WiFi hub neededWeather-resistantCompatible with Alexa, SmartThings, and Google Assistant

If you are considering an option without a camera, the Arlo Audio Doorbell is a cheaper option for renters. Its battery can last up to a year on a single charge. 

Yale Look Door Viewer

The Yale Look Door Viewer is a smart peephole device. It’s a good substitute for the Ring Peephole Cam, which was discontinued in April 2021. It’s probably one of the best doorbell cameras for renters if they live in a complex with peepholes. Here’s why the Yale Look Door Viewer is perfect for renters or if you own an apartment:

  • Easy installation that works with a door’s existing peephole.easyWireless and runs on batteriesNo more squinting to see through the peephole or standing on your toes to try to reach it

Some other key features are:

  • See who’s approaching your front door through the Yale Look app on your smartphoneDetects motion up to six feetTwo-way communication with whoever is at your door Take snapshots or record videos of your front door It has an SD slot, so you can easily save your photos and videos

There are a few models of this one, and they are relatively cheap compared to many video doorbells. 

The Blink Video Doorbell is an excellent option for renters. It’s very affordable and can integrate with Alexa. You can get it as a wired version or wire-free, so it’s less work for your landlord. It’s got plenty of amazing features such as:

  • Two-way audioGet alerts on your phone for motion activityRecords videos and saves them into a cloud. There are plenty of subscription plans.

One slight drawback is that if you want to access all of the features to its fullest, you’ll have to purchase a Sync Module. It allows you to save videos to a USB if you’d like.

eufy Security Video Doorbell

The security and video options that eufy has to offer are fantastic, and they aren’t limited to homeowners. The eufy Security Video Doorbell is ideal for most renters because it’s wire-free and battery-operated. It’s got two-way audio and 1080p resolution. Some other benefits are:

  • No subscription neededLocal storage on a micro-SD cardCompatible with Alexa and Google Assistant

One drawback is that it needs to be recharged about every two months, where other cameras last a bit longer.  

RemoBell Wireless Video Doorbell

The RemoBell Wireless Video Doorbell is a reliable and easy-to-use WiFi doorbell. It’s wireless and takes AA batteries. It will send you alerts when people approach your door. Some other benefits for renters are:

  • Can view a live feed or choose to watch the recorded video laterHD videoTwo-way communicationNight visionEasy installation

After these five amazing video doorbells that you can use for your apartment or rented home, here are some tips to help you install one.

Tips for Installing a Smart Doorbell in Your Apartment

You can install smart doorbells in your apartment, but your limitations will depend on your landlord or property management company. Many smart doorbells are wired into a property for power, which may require a lot of drilling and electrical work your landlord may not allow. However, the ones we listed are wire-free and will require some minor drilling. Here are some great tips for installing a smart doorbell:

  • Discuss it with your landlord or property manager. They may even see it as an investment. Check with your apartment complex to ensure there are no rules against installing video doorbells.Notify your neighbors that you will be installing a video device. They may want to be aware of any recording that takes place, and you can notify them that you will delete any video of them that your device may capture. Consider an easily removable doorbell if you move a lot or have a short lease.

Explore More Smart Home Products

When you live in an apartment, you may think your options are limited, but they aren’t! Smart doorbells are just the beginning of your possibilities with smart home technology. You can easily install and remove many devices in your apartment or rented home to advance how you connect with your home while renting.