The majority of renters want smart home technology in their residence.
Smart home technology can make life easier for renters. And renters want it.
A Rent.com survey revealed that the majority of renters (82 percent) want at least one smart device or system in their home. Despite strong renter interest, nearly half (49 percent) of respondents don’t currently have smart home technology in their apartment, condo, house or townhome.
What is smart home technology?
Smart home technology refers to internet-connected devices in a living space. These devices automate, manage and monitor appliances and systems inside the house or apartment.
There are many smart home devices. Smart appliances can brew fresh coffee in the morning or suggest recipes based on what’s in the refrigerator. Smart lighting systems sense motion and daylight. Intuitive thermostats maximize energy efficiency and keep renters comfortable while they sleep. There are tech essentials for renters, devices for safety and security, even seasonal gadgets to make Christmas decorating easier and more fun.
A smart home refers to a series of smart devices that work together as a unit. They share data amongst themselves to streamline the home’s energy use, monitor the systems and customize the environment according to the residents’ preferences. The smart home controls the remote network.
You can build a smart home system into any type of dwelling. Since some features (like smart thermostats and wall outlets) are hard-wired, it can take additional time to retrofit older buildings.
Since installation requires time and money and residents must clear their sensitive personal information when they move out, some landlords and property owners have been slow to adapt to this new technology. There’s still a gap between the smart home technology that renters want and the devices they actually have in their homes.
The Rent.com survey
Rent.com researchers surveyed 1,546 people about their smart home technology preferences. We asked them which smart home features they currently have in their lease and which smart devices they wished they had. Renters also told us how much they’d be willing to pay every month for the smart home technology they wanted.
Then they ranked how important several smart devices were to them. Our survey addressed smart thermostats, smart lighting, smart outlets and smart appliances. We also asked renters for their opinions about security systems like smart locks/keyless entry systems and automated package lockers, as well as voice assistant controls like Alexa and Google Home.