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After reviewing monitoring services, ease of installation, moving fees, and more, we found SimpliSafe is perfect for renters.
Updated April 16, 2025
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We’re not all ready to settle down into the suburban home with the picket fence and the rose bushes. Some of us never plan to settle down like that. Apartment living offers a ton of conveniences. Installing a security system can sometimes be a bit tricky, though. Most landlords don’t want you drilling into walls and rerouting wires.
The good news is that there are a number of great home security systems out there that can cater specifically to renters. They feature wireless equipment, for instance, so there’s no need to drill or get tangled up in electrical wires. They don’t require long-term contracts or moving fees. When it comes time to relocate, you just pack all the equipment up and take it with you.
Our top picks when it comes to this segment of the industry are SimpliSafe, ADT, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder. All four feature wireless, DIY installation, with flexible equipment and monitoring options that let you customize your system to meet your security needs. SimpliSafe, in particular, stands out. SimpliSafe has grown over time and now offers a lot of features that appeal to the suburbanite, but it remains the most renter-friendly company in the industry. Of course, no system is right for everyone, and SimpliSafe may not be right for you, but we’re pretty sure that you renters out there will find the system that you need somewhere on this list.
Our team of home security experts strongly believes that to make honest and accurate recommendations, we need to test security systems first-hand. So we buy the equipment with our own money, set them up in our own homes, and live with them for weeks or months. This approach lets us get a good feel for the usability, app, response time, and features of each security system we recommend for renters.
We do our best to compare apples to apples. For starters, we install all our test systems in the same house owned by one of our security experts. It’s a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home. We find that this setup offers the best glimpse of how each security system functions in the real world.
We also buy the same components from each system and set them up in identical locations. Here is where we installed the devices we tested:
Since we’re talking about security systems for renters, however, we drew upon our extensive security experience to decide which factors would be most important to renters. We concluded that these are the most important criteria to consider:
Using these criteria, here’s how we compared and ranked our top picks.
Rating the Best Security System for Renters
We’ve all landed on websites featuring reviews for everything from surfboards to hammocks. But our team of experts exclusively review home security and safety equipment. This allows us to dedicate our attention to the topic at hand. The experts who contributed to this review include:
With over 75 years of combined industry experience, we are the most accomplished home security team on the internet. Our work on SafeHome.org started in 2016 and has been featured in many major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Collectively, we have:
All of our recommendations are based on first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the home security industry. So, let’s take a closer look at the best home security systems for renters.
| System | SimpliSafe | ADT | Cove | Frontpoint | Alder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| SecureScore | 9.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Contract length | Monthly | 36 months or monthly with Self Setup | Monthly | Monthly or 36 months | 36 months |
| Installation type | DIY or professional | DIY or professional | DIY or professional | DIY | DIY or professional |
| Professional monitoring cost | Starting at $19.99 per month | Starting at $29.99 per month | Starting at $17.99 per month | Starting at $49 per month | Starting at $39.99 per month |
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $249.96 | Packages starting at $269 | Packages starting at $90 (with discounts) | Packages starting at $79 (after discounts) | Free with 3-year contract |
| Video doorbell | 1080p hardwired | 1080p battery-powered | 2K hardwired or battery-powered | 1080p hardwired or 720p battery-powered | None |
| Review | SimpliSafe review | ADT review | Cove review | Frontpoint review | Alder review |
SimpliSafe Essentials Kit
SimpliSafe was one of the first home security systems to offer security solutions targeted to renters. DIY installation and contract-free monitoring – both vital home security components for renters – remain two of its strongest selling points. Make no mistake, though – SimpliSafe is a complete home security company. It sells top-of-the-line equipment, including powerful security cameras, and it offers advanced monitoring solutions like live security camera monitoring. The bottom line is that just because you have specific needs as a renter doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice safety. SimpliSafe provides serious security no matter what your living situation might be.
SimpliSafe equipment
Maybe the most important reason SimpliSafe is so popular with renters is that it offers simple DIY installation. In fact, the company pioneered DIY, and it has the process down to a science. Every device comes with a peel-and-stick backing that attaches to walls quickly, stays in place as long as you need it, and comes down when you’re ready to move on. We had our entire apartment set up in around 20 minutes. That’s not a record, but it’s pretty close to it.
Here’s one of our experts installing the SimpliSafe motion sensors with adhesive backing.
Pro Tip: As a test, we asked a team member who is renting to show his landlord our pictures installing SimpliSafe (like the one above). The landlord was adamant to allow monitored security systems, but later agreed after reading our installation experience.
Professional monitoring has become one of SimpliSafe’s biggest selling points. It doesn’t quite have ADT’s 12 fully-redundant monitoring centers, but SimpliSafe’s video verification feature is one of a kind. When we tested ADT, the alarm center verified alerts from our system using our security cameras. With SimpliSafe, they even used the two-way talk on our cameras to scare us away while we were pretending to be burglars during our break-in simulations.
That feature, called Live Guard Protection, uses the Smart Alarm wireless indoor camera. After our entry sensor picked up a potential break-in (us entering the house while the system was armed), the camera’s privacy cover snapped open, letting the monitoring center see our living room. As soon as we were in front of the camera, the speaker came alive and a stern, male voice asked us to verify our identity.
Live Guard Protection is included in SimpliSafe’s mid-tier monitoring plan called Core. It’s what we recommend, but there are other subscription plans available. Here’s an overview of SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans and their costs:
| Features | Free | Self-Monitoring with Camera Cloud Storage | Standard Professional Monitoring | Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud storage for 30 days of recordings | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Smart platform compatibility | No | No | No | Yes |
| Cellular backup | No | No | No | Yes |
| 24/7 professional monitoring | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Video verification and live guard | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Equipment warranty | 1-year | 3-year | 3-year | Lifetime |
| Price | Free | $10 per month | $22 per month | $32 per month |
More Options: Two other premium plans are available, named Pro and Pro Plus. They cost $49.99 and $79.99 respectively and offer the same features as the Core plan but with one crucial addition – live camera monitoring works on outdoor cameras as well. SimpliSafe calls that feature Active Guard, and it brings live camera monitoring and verification to the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera and Video Doorbell Pro (more on the video doorbell below).
Kudos to SimpliSafe for making a video doorbell with multiple setup options. When we tested the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro, we were impressed by how easy it was to adjust motion sensor sensitivity. That can be a crucial tool for apartment dwellers, since you tend to have traffic by your front door. False alerts can convince you it’s OK to let some go. When you know every alert is meaningful, you’re more likely to pay attention to all of them.
Of all the SimpliSafe devices we tested, the video doorbell was the only one that needed both hardwiring and drilling.
Unfortunately, SimpliSafe only offers its video doorbell in a hardwired version. The installation process isn’t all that hard, but it involves shutting off your power and getting out your tools. Plus, you may have to get permission from your landlord to change out your old doorbell. And what do you do if you live in an interior apartment with no existing doorbell? The simple answer is that you may need to go with a different company altogether. Google Nest offers a smart, battery-powered option. See our Nest Doorbell review for more information. And, Ring makes a doorbell especially designed to replace peepholes.
FYI: The SimpliSafe doorbell wasn’t the easiest to set up. It took us over 15 minutes, and that’s with a setup that perfectly matches SimpliSafe’ specs (8 to 24 VAC, 10 to 30 VA).
| Monitoring options | Professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional and DIY |
| Smart platform integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $249.96 |
| Monthly monitoring cost | From $21.99 |
| Contract length | Monthly |
For most of its long and storied history, ADT required professional installation with all its systems. In the last two years, though, ADT has transformed itself into a company that offers some great options for renters. As a starting point, you can now install your ADT system yourself. That includes peel-and-stick options that won’t mar your walls. You can also now self-monitor your system, perfect for those apartment dwellers looking to save a little extra money each month. The company no longer requires three-year contracts either, so moving is as simple as unpeeling stickers, unplugging cameras, and loading everything into a UHaul. Add all these new conveniences to ADT’s long history of excellence and customer service, and you’ve got a strong contender for one of the best home security systems for renters.
ADT Control Panel
ADT is one of the only companies out there that offers full, professional installation, and there’s something to be said for letting techs set up your equipment. ADT has been offering this service for 150 years, and it’s pretty good at it. You can be sure everything gets installed in the best possible spots, and techs even go over with you how to use the system. Plus, you know, you can put your feet up and watch the game.
You can now install ADT systems yourself, though, and that’s often the best option for apartment dwellers. ADT has streamlined the process with peel-and-stick options. Of course, the other bonus to DIYing your installation is that you don’t have to pay a dime to get your equipment set up. As nice as it is to let someone else do all the work, professional installation can cost upwards of $150.
Here’s how our ADT control panel looked right after installation.
ADT now offers Google Nest cameras, packed with some of the most advanced tech in the industry. Even these, though, were completely DIY install. In fact, the particular Google Nest Doorbell we tested was battery-powered so it was even easier to install than the SimpliSafe wired video doorbell. Plus, while professional installation is nice and all, it does cost money. DIY is 100-percent free.
Note: We still had to use a drill to install the Nest Doorbell, specifically for the wall anchor. And frankly, we don’t recommend installing it any other way. It’s a $180 piece of equipment; you’d want to make sure it’s anchored securely.
As with installation, ADT has long prided itself on offering professional monitoring. In fact, it’s the best in the business, with 12 separate monitoring centers located across the country for built-in redundancy. However, if you’re looking to save a few extra dollars a month in subscription fees, the company now offers free self-monitoring. ADT has also recently reduced all its monitoring fees, though, so it seems a shame to miss out on one of this system’s best features.
| Features | Secure | Smart | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 professional monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support for security cameras | No | No | Yes |
| Home automation features | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $24.99 per month | $29.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
FYI: ADT charges slightly higher monthly fees for professionally installed security systems, and there’s also a three-year contract required. Self-installed ADT systems, however, don’t require a contract.
ADT now offers Google Nest products, including a Google Nest Doorbell, which we tested. The wireless, battery-powered model is perfect for apartment dwellers since many of us don’t have doorbells or doorbell wiring. Of course, if you prefer a wired model, ADT offers that as well. Both are remarkably easy to install. Of course this doorbell is compatible with Google Home, but it plays well with Alexa as well. Google cameras, including the doorbell, are some of the best on the market, with features like a 145-degree field-of-view and two-way talk.
That’s just the beginning, though, when it comes to this doorbell’s feature. Like many current video doorbells out there, the Nest Video Doorbell can distinguish between people, packages, cars, and animals, which helps cut down on false alerts. Unlike most other video doorbells, though, the Nest comes with facial recognition software capable of learning your neighbors’ friendly faces. Over time, the doorbell figured out who came to our front door most often and put names to faces. So, by the end of our time with the Google Nest Doorbell, we got alerts that said “Alex is at the front door” instead of “Someone is at the front door” when our friend would stop by.
Not only do you get customized alerts, but you can set your security system to let people you trust in automatically. No more leaving the key under the mat for the dogwalker.
>> Compare: ADT vs Ring Comparison – Which Security System is Best?
That’s everything we received from the Nest Doorbell (battery) box.
As for the Google Nest Doorbell, it’s battery-powered as previously mentioned, which makes installation a breeze. We really liked the familiar face detection on it though. This lets the camera automatically start to recognize people. Then, we could attach names to the faces it started to recognize to make our alerts smarter. So, by the end of our time with the Google Nest Doorbell, we got alerts that said “Alex is at the front door” instead of “Someone is at the front door” when our friend would stop by.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $349 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $24.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
| Installation Options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Cove doesn’t offer any pre-packaged systems. That may turn some customers off. It means taking the time to carefully review your home security needs and pick out the components that work best for your particular situation. We like this approach, though. The truth is, you need to think through what you need. You’re not buying a TV; you’re purchasing a home security system, and the more time you put into it, the safer you and your family will be.
In fact, this approach is particularly useful for apartment dwellers. Most of us don’t need three door sensors, motion sensors, and glass break sensors. If you live in a one-bedroom unit in a multi-story apartment complex, one door sensor and a video doorbell may be enough to keep you safe. Buying equipment ala carte is always going to save money on unnecessary system components.
Like ADT, Cove offers professional installation, and like ADT, it charges for that installation – $129. For that price, we decided we could set up our Cove security system ourselves. Unless you’ve got a ladder phobia, we actually recommend it. Devices were packaged in the exact order they needed to be installed. Once we plugged in the hub, we had a master code that let us connect the sensors and cameras. Mounting was peel and stick (maybe you’re detecting a theme at this point?) so no drill holes, and most devices plugged directly into the wall so wiring wasn’t an issue either. From the opening of the first box to the final setup of the last piece of equipment, the whole process took about 30 minutes.
It was as easy as plugging in the hub, setting up a master code, mounting some sensors, and installing the cameras. There was no need to drill holes in the wall or mess around with the internal wiring. Most devices are battery-powered or plug into a socket, and the sensors stick to the wall with adhesives.
Pro Tip: What we really loved about installing Cove? The on-screen and audible instructions. And with the touchscreen keypad’s 24-hour battery, you can take it around with you as you install your sensors around the apartment.
Cove is now one of the few home security companies that requires professional monitoring with every system. That may turn some renters off. When you rent, it’s always easier to control your own system yourself. Even for renters, though, professional monitoring is always the safer option. Even you have to go to sleep, go to the dentist, or go out of town. We think it’s absolutely worth a few dollars a month extra to ensure that someone’s keeping an eye on your home when you’re lounging on the beach.
Cove let us choose between two plans – the Basic and the Plus. Both provide 24/7 monitoring. 4G LTE connections from AT&T mean the strength of your Wi-Fi signal is a non-issue, and you even get a backup battery, so you can rest easy in any kind of weather. The last time a major storm rolled through our area, we lost power for 18 hours. All that ice cream melted away in our freezer, but we never once worried about our security, though.
YI Indoor Camera for Cove
Cove doesn’t manufacture its own cameras, and that sometimes means you wind up paying a bit more. The good news is Cove’s video doorbell’s are manufactured by Eufy, one of the best camera companies in the business. This doorbell doesn’t just detect movement. It’s also responsive to noises. Footage is 2K resolution, higher than the industry standard. Plus, with two-way talk, you can have a conversation with whoever’s at the door without having to get up off your couch.
Maybe the best thing about Cove’s video doorbells, though, is that you can store footage locally using a Micro SD card. The company offers cloud storage as well. That costs $2.99 a month, though, per camera, on top of monitoring costs. We’ll take the free option, thank you.
FYI: Before Eufy, Cove used to offer security cameras from Yi (see picture above). We like the switch because back then, the Yi cameras needed a different app than the Cove app. With the current setup, we were able to view camera footage and recordings straight from the Cove Connect app.
| Monitoring options | Professional or DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional or DIY |
| Smart platform integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment cost | From $300 for hub and keypad |
| Monthly monitoring cost | From $19.99 |
| Contract length | Monthly |
Frontpoint mixes a lot of the best qualities of other home security systems on this list. Like SimpliSafe, for instance, the company runs frequent sales, and that means you can always get equipment at bargain prices. Installation is entirely DIY and it’s simple and fast. Peel-and-stick options mean it’s all up in a flash and down in a flash when the time comes. Like Cove, though, Frontpoint requires all customers to sign up for a professional monitoring plan, which guarantees your security. The one knock on Frontpoint – monitoring is a bit expensive, and it’s one-size-fits-all, so apartment dwellers wind up paying the same price as homeowners with sprawling ranch compounds. Still, easy-to-install equipment and the ability to move quickly and take your security system with you make Frontpoint a good buy for anyone renting.
Frontpoint equipment
Frontpoint doesn’t offer professional installation, but the DIY process is so straightforward anyone can do it. It’s one of the best DIY systems. The entire process is peel-and-stick. Instructions are clear, and we managed to get the whole thing up in under half an hour. Best of all we didn’t have to pay a dime. Just to keep the support team on their toes, we called and asked a couple of questions. Everyone was nice and helpful. We asked about the best spot to put our motion sensor, and they rightfully told us to put it in the corner of the room somewhere between five feet and seven feet high. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
FYI: Frontpoint has partnered with HelloTech for third-party professional installation, with prices starting at $99. It’s not our only top-pick with such an option; SimpliSafe partnered with OnTech. But in the topic of professional installation, we still prefer in-house. ADT is the only option on this list that offers that.
We loved the equipment quality, but the sensors were bulkier than we expected.
We had no problem with Frointpoint’s monitoring service. Not only did we get round-the-clock service, but the company’s 25-second response time outperforms the 30 to 40-second industry average. OK, Vivint’s text alerts actually arrived in under 10 seconds, making it among the fastest home security response times we’ve seen. 25 seconds is actually the sweet spot, though. You get help fast, but you also have enough time to cancel an alert if you need to.
On the other hand, we weren’t best pleased with how Frontpoint prices its monitoring service. First, $49.99 is a bit high. It’s not ridiculous. You can certainly wind up paying more for Vivint monitoring, for instance, depending on your equipment. The bigger problem is that Frontpoint only offers one monitoring option. Everyone pays $49.99. Everyone. That’s a pretty good deal if you’ve got eight or 10 cameras to monitor. It’s a pretty bad deal if you’re living in, say, an apartment and you have just one video doorbell.
Pro Tip: That flat rate isn’t ideal for everybody, especially if you’re renting a smaller apartment or if you’re not looking to get security cameras. If that’s the case, you’ll get better value from the Cove Basic ($17.99 per month) or SimpliSafe Standard ($19.99 per month) plans.
We live in a third-floor walkup, but we like the security of having eyes on our landing. You always want to know who’s knocking at your door before you open it. Frontpoint offers both a wired and wireless version of its video doorbell. For renters, wireless is usually going to be the better option. It certainly was for us. With wireless, you don’t have to worry about fiddling with your rental property’s wiring. Yeah, replacing a doorbell is pretty basic, but why risk angering your landlord if you don’t have to? Frontpoint’s wireless doorbell went up easily and worked great.
| Features | Wired Video Doorbell | Wireless Video Doorbell |
|---|---|---|
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Two-way audio | Yes | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Infrared night vision | Yes | Yes |
| Requires removal of current doorbell | Yes | No |
| Battery life | N/A | About 6 months |
| Operating temperatures | 122 to -58 degrees Fahrenheit | 122 to -4 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Price | $299.98 | $199.99 |
FYI: Frontpoint constantly runs sales, bringing down the price of the Wired Video Doorbell down to $199.98 and the price of the Wireless Video Doorbell down to $129.99.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $386.93 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $14.99 per month |
| Contract Lengths | Monthly or 36 months |
| Installation Options | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, and Siri |
Alder began life as a regional home security provider. As part of its move to become a national provider, it’s made a few exaggerated claims to try and gain attention in a crowded market. A 10-minute installation process? A 3.4-second response time? Not according to our tests. Still, Alder makes for a solid home security choice, especially if you’re looking for great camera options. Frankly, we’re not sure why they feel the need to engage in hyperbole. Both their indoor and outdoor cameras are packed with features. And a 30-second response time isn’t quite as attention-grabbing as a 3.4-second response time, but it’s still a darn good number.
We should point out that Alder doesn’t let customers purchase equipment upfront. That’s great for customers who want to invest in a system without putting money down. However, this approach isn’t for everyone. Renters, for instance, may not want to sign up for a 36-month financing contract. Three years is a long time to be locked down.
Alder security equipment
Alder’s installation process is reasonably straightforward. We didn’t have to break out the toolbox or anything crazy like that. It was all adhesive backing, aka peel-and-stick, and the equipment synced up without any trouble. It wasn’t quite as fast an installation as Alder promised – 10 minutes – but half an hour is a respectable amount of time to devote to getting a home security system in place.
Again, Alder makes some pretty bold claims here that it failed to live up to in our hands-on tests. We’re not saying there’s anything especially wrong with Alder’s monitoring. We found, for example, that the company responds to security alerts in around 30 seconds. That’s at least as good as the industry average. The problem is, Alder’s marketing material can sometimes get a little aggressive. Visit the website, for example, and you’ll find a claim that Alder responds to alerts in 3.4 seconds. To be honest, a response time like that would be nothing short of miraculous.
By all means, trust Alder to respond to any emergency in your home and to do so promptly. It’s always a little disconcerting, though, when a company feels the need to exaggerate its statistics, and it always leaves us wondering what else the company might be exaggerating.
Alder has experienced a few growing pains as it moves from a regional to a national company. One of those has to do with doorbell offerings. The company used to offer two different doorbells. One of those – the Skybell Video Doorbell – included features like 1080p HD resolution, a 180-degree field-of-view, and integration with most industry smart home devices (see our Skybell Video Doorbell review for more). At the moment, the company doesn’t seem to be offering a video doorbell at all. There’s a picture of one on the Alder website, but click on it and it doesn’t actually take you anywhere. Video doorbells can be crucial for renters. Of course, they protect your main entrance. And if you live in an apartment, you may not have a need for any other sort of camera. Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on this situation to see how it develops.
Alder Security Cameras
Pro Tip: While you can’t get a video doorbell, Alder’s outdoor security cameras are surprisingly good with 2K resolution that lets you easily identify faces or see license plates, just like you could with a video doorbell. They even give Vivint a run for their money. See how their cameras stack up in our Alder vs Vivint comparison.
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $360 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring options | Professional |
| Monitoring cost | Starting at $40 per month |
| Contract length | 36 months |
| Installation options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart platform integration | Alexa and Google Home |
SimpliSafe, ADT, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder are our top-pick security systems for renters. But how exactly did we come to that conclusion? Well, as we said above, we looked at certain factors. These were those factors:
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
In our experience, most apartment complexes prefer professional installation over DIY installation. When you bring in the professionals, your landlord gets a level of assurance that the system will get installed without any collateral damage. With a DIY install, landlords and property managers worry about holes in the wall that are difficult to patch. As a tenant, messing with the wiring in a doorbell is a whole other level of concern for landlords.
>> Read About: Best Professionally Monitored and Installed Home Security Systems of 2025
SimpliSafe, our top-pick for renters, offers both professional and DIY installation; we opted for the latter.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with an easy DIY security system, like ADT Self Setup. You don’t need to change any wiring or even pick up a tool from your toolbox. Everything is peel-and-stick adhesives, just like putting up a command strip. That’s why it made our list of the best DIY home security systems.
Let’s face it, when you rent a home or apartment, you may not have as much in your home to steal and don’t really care that much about vandalism. That’s a problem for your property manager to deal with. So, should you even bother with professional monitoring for your rental’s security system? Well, here are a few reasons you might want to consider professional monitoring:
Okay, that last one is a bit of a joke, but it’s true for me. There are plenty of reasons a renter could benefit from professional monitoring.
There are also other factors to consider, like which state you live in and what type of property you’re renting. For example:
Ultimately, it’s your call whether to get professional monitoring or not. But for most people, it is the safest route.
Generally speaking, tenants can install a security system at the place they rent. However, you won’t be able to put outdoor security cameras up anywhere outside of the space you rent. We always recommend checking with your landlord to see what areas you can install equipment.
We tested a SimpliSafe indoor camera with a privacy shutter to protect your privacy.
Also, check through your lease before buying anything. Make sure there are no clauses against video recording equipment. While recording in your own apartment should never be an issue, if one of your indoor cameras can see through a window into someone else's apartment, it could become one. Basically, just use common sense and always ask your landlord first to avoid any potential fees taken off your security deposit when you leave.
>> Learn About: Can Tenants Install Security Cameras?
At the end of the day, which security system is best for you really depends on the property or apartment you’re renting. In some spots, changing out the current doorbell with SimpliSafe’s Video Doorbell Pro won’t be an issue. Your maintenance guy might even help you with the replacement. Other landlords and property managers will entirely deny your request to make even the smallest modifications.
No matter what though, you deserve to be safe in your own home, whether that’s an apartment, condo, or rental home. And if that means installing a home security system, there are always solutions out there that will still comply with your lease.
Want to know even more about the best home security systems for apartments? Check out our FAQs below.
All in all, we like SimpliSafe the most. But, we’d recommend ADT or Frontpoint if you can’t replace your current doorbell with SimpliSafe’s video doorbell. And if you want to pay for your equipment through a monthly fee, go with Alder.
As long as you don’t cause any damage while installing your home security system, it shouldn’t cause an issue with your deposit. Just remember to make any necessary fixes before leaving after taking down your equipment.
It’s always a bit riskier signing up for a long-term home security contract as a tenant instead of a homeowner. That’s one of the reasons SimpliSafe is our favorite for renters. But, signing a long-term contract isn’t always bad and you can usually move your system with you for a fee of $100 to $200 for most systems.
Even though we really like Vivint as a home security system, we don’t recommend it for renters. Between its contracts that start at 42 months and the hefty relocation fee, Vivint is made more for people who have hunkered down and plan to live the next 10 to 20 years in the same home.
When you don’t own the place, unfortunately, landlords can generally put rules in place that would prevent you from installing a security system. In practice, most would rather their tenants have a security system. So, it shouldn’t be an issue, but you should still check your lease before buying a system.
CloudaStructure. (2023). Multifamily Crime Poll: Significant Increases in Crime in 2023.
https://www.cloudastructure.com/post/multifamily-crime-poll-significant-increases-in-crime-in-2023
