Home automation and rental: how to add value to your property
How home automation can increase the rental value of your property in Belgium. Connected thermostat, smart lock, sensors and return on investment for landlords.
- 01 Why invest
- 02 Key equipment
- 03 Return on investment
- 04 Legal aspects
- 05 Implementation
Why invest in home automation for a rental property
The Belgian rental market is increasingly segmented between “basic” and “premium” properties. Home automation is one of the levers that positions your property in the higher category, attracts quality tenants and justifies a higher rent.
Beyond comfort, home automation offers concrete benefits for the landlord: reduced energy consumption (better EPC score), remote monitoring (leak detection, alerts), and market differentiation (argument in the listing).
According to an Immoweb 2025 survey, listings mentioning connected equipment (thermostat, smart lock, detectors) receive 15 to 20% more enquiries than equivalent listings without mention of home automation.
Relevant home automation equipment for rental
Tier 1: high impact, moderate cost
| Equipment | Installation cost | Main benefit | Rent impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected thermostat | 150-350 EUR | Energy savings, EPC | +10-20 EUR/month |
| Water leak detectors | 50-150 EUR | Damage prevention | Indirect (insurance) |
| LED lighting with dimmers | 200-500 EUR | Comfort, savings | +5-10 EUR/month |
Tier 2: medium impact, moderate cost
| Equipment | Installation cost | Main benefit | Rent impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart lock | 200-500 EUR | Access management, security | +10-15 EUR/month |
| Smart plugs | 100-300 EUR | Comfort, savings | Marginal |
| Video doorbell | 100-250 EUR | Security, parcels | +5-10 EUR/month |
Tier 3: variable impact, high cost
| Equipment | Installation cost | Main benefit | Rent impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorised shutters | 500-2,000 EUR | Comfort, insulation | +15-25 EUR/month |
| Multi-room audio system | 500-1,500 EUR | Premium comfort | +10-20 EUR/month |
| Outdoor security camera | 200-600 EUR | Security | Depends on location |
The connected thermostat is the best investment in terms of cost/benefit ratio: it improves the EPC, reduces the tenant’s energy bills and pays for itself within a few months through the rent increase.
Concrete return on investment
Example: 2-bedroom flat in Brussels
- Current rent: 950 EUR/month
- Home automation investment: connected thermostat (250 EUR) + leak detectors (100 EUR) + smart lock (350 EUR) + video doorbell (150 EUR) = 850 EUR
- Estimated rent increase: +30 to 50 EUR/month
- Payback period: 17 to 28 months
Savings for the tenant
A properly programmed connected thermostat can reduce heating bills by 10 to 25%. For a flat with gas heating costing 1,200 EUR/year, the saving is 120 to 300 EUR/year for the tenant. This is a powerful sales argument during viewings.
Mention connected equipment in your listing with estimated savings. “Connected thermostat: up to 20% saving on heating” is more convincing than “home automation-equipped flat”.
Legal aspects and GDPR
What the lease says
Home automation equipment installed by the landlord must be listed in the lease and in the property inventory. The tenant is responsible for routine maintenance; the landlord is responsible for replacement due to wear and tear.
Data protection (GDPR)
Certain home automation devices collect data: energy consumption, presence times, video doorbell images. The landlord must:
- Inform the tenant about data collected by the equipment
- Not access the tenant’s data without their consent
- Not install cameras inside the dwelling (violation of privacy)
- Allow deactivation of data collection features if the tenant wishes
Smart lock: a special case
The smart lock is a sensitive case. The landlord must never retain remote access to the rented dwelling (inviolability of the home, article 15 of the Constitution). The tenant must be the sole person controlling access during the lease.
How to implement home automation in your rental property
The pragmatic approach
- Start with the connected thermostat: best ROI, EPC impact, sales argument
- Add leak detectors: minimal investment, maximum protection against water damage
- Evaluate the smart lock: relevant if the property is far from your home (remote key management for viewings)
- Avoid over-engineering: a complex home automation system requires a tech-savvy tenant and generates support requests
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not install equipment that requires a monthly subscription (unless you bear the cost)
- Do not choose proprietary brands without an open ecosystem (risk of obsolescence)
- Do not forget to update the lease and property inventory
- Do not collect personal data without consent
Home automation is an effective value-adding tool when deployed in a targeted way that respects the legal framework. To know all your landlord obligations including equipment, see our complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
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The landlord can install home automation equipment before letting and list it in the lease as provided equipment. The tenant cannot remove it. However, the landlord cannot require the tenant to use a specific app or collect consumption data without consent (GDPR). Equipment should remain functional without the app if possible (a connected thermostat must also work manually).
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If the connected thermostat was installed by the landlord and listed in the property inventory, its replacement due to wear and tear is the landlord's responsibility (like any provided equipment). Routine maintenance (battery changes, software updates) is the tenant's responsibility. If the breakdown is due to misuse by the tenant, replacement is at their expense.
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A programmable or connected thermostat is taken into account in the EPC calculation and can slightly improve the score. However, smart locks, cameras or smart lighting have no EPC impact. EPC improvement mainly comes from insulation, glazing and the heating system, not comfort-oriented home automation.
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