Best Smart Thermostat for Rental Property
The best smart thermostat for rental property can save you a ton of money in the long run, keeping your heating/cooling costs in check between guests while preventing guests from ramping up your energy bill. We’ve put together this list of smart thermostats for property managers:
- Mysa Smart Thermostat
- ecobee Smarter Thermostat
- Google Nest Learning Thermostat
- Honeywell T9 Smart Home Thermostat
Each of these thermostats can be found in vrbos, AirBnBs, and other short/long-term rentals across North America. But, the Mysa smart thermostat is in a league of its own when you consider capabilities and features compared with costs. Learn which smart thermostat is best for your rental property below!
Why Your Rental Property Needs a Smart Thermostat
Wasted energy, poor visibility into guest usage, and damage risk when nobody is on-site - these are just a few of the many problems rental owners and property managers deal with on a daily basis. All of them are solved by upgrading to a smart thermostat.
Cut Heating and Cooling Costs Between Guests
The best smart thermostat for rental property owners pays for itself by letting you shut off or at the very least lower the heat/AC between guests when the unit is vacant. Even a few vacant days a month running at full temperature adds up fast, especially in colder or hotter climates.
Control Costs While Guests Are Staying With You
Guests don’t pay the utility bill, and they know it. But smart thermostats let you set temperature limits so systems can’t be pushed to extremes like 80°F heat in winter or constant AC at max output. Guests still stay comfortable without energy bills spiraling out of control.
Manage Multiple Properties From One App
Checking thermostats individually becomes impossible without central control, whether you manage a single unit or 20 units. You can view temperatures, change settings, and receive alerts across all properties from one dashboard without site visits or back-and-forth messages.
Protect Against Frozen Pipes and Extreme Temps
Cold snaps cause more damage than most owners expect. Smart thermostats ping your phone when temperatures drop unexpectedly, so you can act before pipes freeze. Some even have humidity sensors, which could clue you into a leak somewhere.
What to Look For in a Rental Property Smart Thermostat
There are so many brands and models on the market, but you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best smart thermostat for rental property management. It’ll pay for itself fast and save you a ton of stress. These are the things you need to look for as you weigh your options:
Remote Temperature Control and Monitoring
You obviously need to be able to see current temperatures and make adjustments without being on-site. Otherwise, what’s the point? This is how you’ll save money while still providing a world-class experience for your guests.
It’ll also help you verify what’s actually happening before deciding to send in maintenance if an issue pops up.
Temperature Limits or Range Locks
Rental thermostats need guardrails. Make sure the thermostat you’re considering lets you set minimum and maximum temperatures so guests can’t crank the heat nonstop or run AC at extremes. It’ll save you money and protect HVAC equipment.
Guests are still able to adjust the thermostat to stay comfortable, but they can’t get carried away.
Simple Guest Interface
There’s nothing worse than showing up for a vacation only to find yourself fighting with the thermostat trying to turn the heat or AC on. This is a bad way to start the trip.
So, make sure the thermostat in your rental property is easy to use from the guests’ POV, too. They shouldn’t have to download an app or walk through a tutorial. It should be an intuitive experience.
Reliable Wi-Fi Connectivity
The thermostat should stay connected even after router resets or power outages. Devices that frequently drop offline remove your visibility when you need it most. Stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi support matters more than advanced features you never actually use.
Compatibility With Your Heating or Cooling System
The best smart thermostat for rental property management is one that fits your home’s heating/cooling system. Whether that’s a mini split thermostat, a baseboard heater thermostat, or an in-floor heating thermostat, double-check compatibility before buying.
Warranty and Long-Term Support
Rental properties don’t get gentle use. A long warranty and responsive support can save you major headaches and replacement costs. You need to be able to resolve an issue ASAP when guest turnaround times are so tight.
Value For the Money
You get what you pay for, so don’t expect the best smart thermostat for rental property to be cheap. It doesn’t have to break the bank, though.
Value for the money matters more than the initial price tag. Some units look affordable on paper, but the extra hardware and subscription fees can quickly add up and catch you off guard. Think about the total cost of ownership.
And remember, a smart thermostat is an investment in energy savings - treat it accordingly!
Simple Installation
Quick installs minimize labor costs and simplify replacements between bookings. A thermostat that installs in under 30 minutes can be swapped without calling an electrician in most cases.
Best Smart Thermostat for Rental Property Management
Stop stressing about heating and cooling in your rental properties. The best smart thermostat for rental property management is a few clicks away at Mysa. We’ll introduce our lineup of devices and show you how they stack up to the other big names on the market.
Mysa Smart Thermostat
There’s a Mysa smarter thermostat for every heating and cooling system - even the ones most brands overlook, like line-voltage smart thermostats. But most rental property owners are drawn to either our central HVAC or mini-split smart thermostats.
Mysa for Mini-Split Heat Pumps replaces the handheld remote with wall-mounted control and full app access. View room temperature, adjust settings remotely, set schedules, and apply geofencing to avoid heating/cooling empty units. Each system runs independently, which works well for multi-unit rentals or suites with their own mini-split.
Mysa for Central HVAC is a 24v smart thermostat that supports traditional heating systems. You can monitor temperatures remotely, create heating and cooling schedules, and review energy usage trends to spot waste early. It’s an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat that can save you up to 26% on your energy bill.
There are also electric baseboard and electric in-floor heating thermostats if your property uses these. All the WiFi smart thermostats across the lineup work in the same app and include features property managers genuinely need:
- Multi-home management
- Shared app access
- Temperature alerts
- Geofencing
- Detailed energy reporting
- And more!
There are no subscription fees, and every unit is backed by a 5-year warranty. Setup takes no more than 25 minutes, and you can always get in touch with world-class customer service based right here in North America.
Matter smart thermostat capability is coming soon, too, so you can improve guest experience with smart-home functionality! Order yours risk-free and find out firsthand why this is the best smart thermostat for rental property management.
ecobee Smart Thermostat
You’ll also see ecobee’s smart thermostat recommended for managing 24V central HVAC systems, including furnaces, central air conditioners, and ducted heat pumps. It replaces a standard wall thermostat and connects directly to the HVAC control board for full system control through the ecobee app.
The way it works is through remote room sensors that track temperature and occupancy in multiple spaces. Then, the thermostat can average or prioritize certain rooms instead of relying just on hallway readings.
Ecobee’s smart thermostat also supports voice control, built-in Alexa on some models, detailed scheduling, and energy usage reports. Geofencing is available through the app as well.
That said, complexity is the biggest concern for rental property managers. Controls can feel a little overwhelming, and room sensors add hardware that can be misplaced or damaged. Most property owners/managers find that Mysa is a stronger ecobee alternative.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is another really popular choice for 24V HVAC systems with its unique self-learning behavior. It pays attention to climate and builds an automatic schedule over time based on usage patterns.
Sounds great in theory - and it can be for your own home. The problem is, you’re looking for the best smart thermostat for rental property management. Not all guests behave the same way, so the Nest is constantly relearning preferences. It has a habit of developing a mind of its own, too.
Still, it has its place. It can automatically lower heating and cooling when no one is home and adjust temperatures based on occupancy detection. The Google Home app provides remote access and basic scheduling tools.
But guest adjustments often confuse the schedule, leading to unpredictable temperatures between stays. Nest also offers limited temperature lock options compared to rental-focused setups. Visibility into energy reporting can be limited as well. Mysa is a better Nest thermostat alternative.
Honeywell T9 Smart Home Thermostat
You can’t go wrong with a Honeywell thermostat for your rental property, especially the T9 Smart Home Thermostat. This unit relies on optional wireless room sensors to manage temperature across different spaces, just like ecobee.
The T9 supports scheduling, geofencing, smart alerts, and app-based remote control. It integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home, making it flexible within mixed smart home environments.
The thermostat itself uses a straightforward touchscreen layout that guests have no trouble interacting with. Its room-based temperature control can come in handy to reduce hot/cold spots in larger homes. You can set up basic temperature limits for short-term rentals, too.
The limitation comes from cost and setup. Room sensors are sold separately and can quickly add up. You won’t get the detailed energy insights you would with other thermostats on this list, either.
You can compare Mysa vs Honeywell side-by-side for a closer look at which is the best smart thermostat for rental property management. But at this point, the choice should be clear.
Wrapping Up Our Guide to the Best Smart Thermostat for Rental Properties
Finding the best smart thermostat for rental properties comes down to control, reliability, and how easily you can manage costs without creating friction for guests. The right system gives you visibility between stays, prevents overuse, and works consistently across property types.
Mysa’s lineup of smart thermostats checks all these boxes.
Whether you’re trying to control mini-splits or central HVAC, electric in-floor heating systems or baseboard heating systems, we have a device for that - and it’s more affordable than you might think!
Choose Mysa to protect your investment, cut wasted energy, and manage every rental with confidence from anywhere. See why property owners and managers prefer Mysa today.
Frequently asked questions
Do smart thermostats require WiFi?
Yes, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to control them remotely. This is how you’ll handle scheduling and alerts as well. They still functional manually if WiFi goes down, but you lose app-based control until it’s reactivated.
Can a smart thermostat be tampered with by guests at your rental property?
Not if the thermostat includes temperature limits or range locks. These features let you cap heating and cooling so guests can’t run systems at extreme settings.
How easy is it for guests to use a smart thermostat?
That’s the whole point of choosing the best smart thermostat for rental property management. Mysa makes it easy to provide a world-class guest experience with intuitive controls. Guests can change comfort easily while you stay in control through the app.