Smart thermostats are one of the simplest home device upgrades you can make to save money without needing a lot of tech knowledge or constant monitoring. But I’ve found a frequent question pops up when learning thermostats are discussed: Can renters use them?
Renters can use smart thermostats from brands like Amazon, Ecobee and Nest, in most situations, and when I asked thermostat specialists at Ecobee for savings info, they reported that, “All Ecobee smart thermostats can help save up to 26% on heating and cooling costs by reducing energy usage. When paired with our smart sensors, we can save even more money by optimizing heating and cooling for specific rooms and automatically pausing your HVAC system when a door or window is open.”
But first renters have to install their own smart thermostats: Here’s how that works.
Installing a smart thermostat in a rental
A smart thermostat is installed exactly where your old thermostat was. All it needs is a Wi-Fi connection and an app and you can easily program or change it from anywhere. These thermostats also include learning features to adjust themselves automatically based on when they sense people are moving around the house.
In other words, any renter who pays their own electricity bills will likely see monthly savings by installing a smart thermostat. Average savings according to Google Nest research are about $140 per year, while Ecobee’s higher-end estimate would save about $250 a year. Other experts put potential savings much higher, depending on your climate, rental insulation, previous energy use and other factors. That makes this upgrade a good choice for renters who plan on staying in the same spot for a few years.
Installation itself is usually straightforward. Shut down the power to the thermostat, dismount it, take a photo of all the wire contacts and attach your new thermostat in the same way. There are minor variations, like if a thermostat needs a power-giving C-wire, but you can find a compatible model for most homes. The trick is knowing if your landlord will let you install one.
Getting permission to install a smart thermostat
Renters usually need to get permission before screwing and wiring a device into a rental, which means smart thermostats will require some planning.
First, renters should check their lease for any specific info. Some leases will say if owners control installations like this. The next step is to contact the landlord or property management firm and let them know that you want to install a smart thermostat. Renters should let them know that they are willing to pay for and manage the thermostat.
Some rental owners will be fine with this change, especially because they will get control over the smart thermostat (and its savings) when tenants leave. Others won’t like the idea of adding app management to the heating and cooling for a rental. The only way to find out which is to ask.
Acting fast for smart thermostat savings
There’s another reason renters should start the process of getting a smart thermostat quickly. iPhones aren’t the only things being impacted by unpredictable but rising 2025 tariffs: We believe many companies will start increasing the prices of their devices as their component, chip and material prices rise — including for smart thermostats. As our CNET survey showed consumers are buying tech fast to avoid this, smart thermostat availability may also be affected. These trends make it a good idea to buy one of these learning thermostats quickly to save as much of your budget as possible.
As for a specific model, I suggest going with a low-cost option to maximize savings ASAP. Amazon’s smart thermostat, for example, is available for less than $100 and can even use an Echo Dot 5 as a satellite sensor.
Rental owners and smart thermostat controls
There’s a final consideration for renters picking out a smart thermostat. Some owners may only agree to a smart thermostat if they are the ones to have Wi-Fi control, which means they can change temperatures remotely.
That obviously has potential for abuse but many states and cities already have laws preventing landlords from lowering heat below certain levels (in California, for example, tenants need to be able to at least adjust the temps to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). Some states, including California, also are working on laws for required cooling levels, so landlords can’t cut off the AC in a heatwave.
If landlords want control over the thermostat, it’s very important to look up your local laws and let owners know about any limitations. Then you can decide if it’s worth it. A possible compromise is connecting the thermostat to a local power utility program to automatically save money during peak use hours, available via programs like Ecobee Community Energy Savings.
For more information on the smart tech that can revolutionize your rental life, check out our pieces on the best home security for renters, if apartment dwellers can install security cameras and the easiest ways to save money with home devices like smart plugs.
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