Security for a Rented Flat With Minimal Drilling
Short answer: in a rented flat, use wireless and battery-powered devices that stick on or sit on a shelf, and that you can take with you when you move. A Wi-Fi alarm kit with siren, motion and door sensors, an extra Wi-Fi door sensor, a battery video doorbell, an indoor Wi-Fi camera, a smoke alarm, a hidden cabinet lock and a fingerprint padlock come to about ₹17,700 at our prices. A basic setup of stick-on door alarms, a doorbell camera and a padlock costs about ₹5,100. All prices below are our live website prices, include GST, and delivery across India is free.
Most tenants cannot change the main door lock, run new wires or chisel walls. The landlord may also hold back the deposit for holes. So the plan below avoids wired locks, wired cameras and anything that needs a new cable. We say clearly which items the listing describes as adhesive or punch-free, and which may need a couple of small screws.
What does a rented flat need, and why?
- An alarm that runs on Wi-Fi, not wires. The Combo-CN290 kit has a 120 dB wireless siren, a motion sensor, a door and window sensor, 2 remotes and an adapter. The siren plugs into a socket. You arm and disarm it with the remote or the app.
- A sensor on every outside door. In a flat, that is the main door and the balcony door. The MC-TY Wi-Fi door sensor sends a phone notification the moment the door opens, with no hub needed.
- A way to see who is at the door. A battery video doorbell needs no doorbell wiring. The VDP-TY has a built-in 4000mAh battery charged by Type-C, a 120° lens, two-way talk and a memory card slot (up to 128GB, card not included).
- One indoor camera. A pan-tilt Wi-Fi camera covering the living room and the inside of the main door shows you what happened if the alarm goes off.
- A smoke alarm. Battery and Wi-Fi models stick or screw to the ceiling and need no wiring.
- Locks you can carry to the next flat: a hidden lock for the wardrobe and a padlock for the storeroom, a trunk or the balcony grill.
Shopping list with prices
We assumed a 2BHK rented flat with a main door and one balcony door, home Wi-Fi, and one person or couple who is out at work all day.
| Item | Fitting | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combo-CN290: Wi-Fi siren, motion sensor, door sensor, 2 remotes, adapter | Siren plugs into a socket; sensors on the main door and hall | 1 | ₹5,450 | ₹5,450 |
| MC-TY Tuya Wi-Fi door sensor | Balcony door, battery included | 1 | ₹1,249 | ₹1,249 |
| VDP-TY battery video doorbell | Outside the main door, no wiring | 1 | ₹2,799 | ₹2,799 |
| CP Plus CP-Z43Q 4MP Wi-Fi pan-tilt camera | Living room, facing the main door | 1 | ₹3,499 | ₹3,499 |
| SMK-TY Tuya Wi-Fi smoke alarm | Ceiling of the hall, built-in battery | 1 | ₹1,799 | ₹1,799 |
| MFCL-200 hidden RFID cabinet lock | Inside a wooden wardrobe; listed as punch-free | 1 | ₹1,549 | ₹1,549 |
| FPAL-MINI fingerprint padlock | Storeroom, trunk or balcony grill | 1 | ₹1,349 | ₹1,349 |
| Full setup total | ₹17,694 |
A memory card for the doorbell and camera is extra. Everything here comes off the wall when you leave.
Basic setup under ₹5,200
| Item | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MC-AL door and window open alarm, set of 4 | Each unit has its own siren and sticks on with adhesive | ₹969 |
| VDP-TY battery video doorbell | See and talk to visitors on your phone | ₹2,799 |
| FPAL-MINI fingerprint padlock | Keyless padlock, stores 20 fingerprints | ₹1,349 |
That is ₹5,117 in total. The MC-AL alarms only sound locally and do not alert your phone, so they suit a flat where someone is usually home or neighbours will hear.
Which devices need drilling, and which do not?
- No drilling, per the listing: the MC-AL door and window alarms say there is no need to drill, as they fix with adhesive. The MFCL-200 cabinet lock is listed as punch-free.
- Plugs in: the CN290 siren uses an adapter in a wall socket.
- Usually one or two small screws, or strong double-sided tape: the doorbell, the smoke alarm and the camera mount. Check each product page for the bracket. An indoor pan-tilt camera can often sit on a shelf or cabinet top instead.
- Avoid in a rented flat: electronic rim locks, EM locks and wired video door phones. They need cable runs and fixing to the door and frame.
Small screw holes are easy to fill with putty when you leave, but ask your landlord before fixing anything.
How to set it up in an evening
- Make sure your router has its 2.4 GHz band switched on. The VDP-TY works on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and most Tuya devices do.
- Install the Smart Life (Tuya) app and add the siren, door sensor, smoke alarm and doorbell one by one.
- Fix the door sensor magnet on the door and the main body on the frame, aligned.
- Place the motion sensor in a hall corner facing the main door, away from windows and AC vents.
- Test each sensor with the alarm armed, and check that your phone gets the alert.
- Add a family member to the app so someone else also gets alerts.
Optional upgrades
- Smart drawer lock: the TYCL-100 Bluetooth and Tuya drawer lock (₹1,799) is invisible from outside, runs on AAA batteries and can share access with others through the app (remote unlocking needs a Tuya Bluetooth gateway).
- Heavier padlock: the FPAL-2K fingerprint padlock (₹3,299) stores up to 50 fingers and works with an app and keys.
- Gas leak warning: the Tuya Wi-Fi gas leak detector (₹2,699) for the kitchen.
Read our GSM vs Wi-Fi burglar alarm guide and the cabinet and locker lock guide for more choices. Browse smart home Wi-Fi devices, wireless door and window sensors and smart padlocks, or plan a system in the Security System Builder.
FAQ
How can I secure a rented flat without drilling?
Use adhesive door and window alarms, a plug-in Wi-Fi siren, a battery video doorbell and a camera on a shelf. The MC-AL alarms are listed as needing no drill, and the MFCL-200 cabinet lock is listed as punch-free.
What is the cheapest security for a rented flat?
A set of 4 MC-AL stick-on door and window alarms costs ₹969. With a VDP-TY battery doorbell and a fingerprint padlock, a basic setup is ₹5,117.
Can I take these devices with me when I shift?
Yes. They are wireless or battery powered. Remove them, reset them in the app if needed, and set them up again in the new flat.
Does a battery video doorbell need wiring?
No. The VDP-TY has a built-in 4000mAh battery that you charge with a Type-C cable, and it connects to your phone over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Will a Wi-Fi alarm alert me when I am at the office?
Yes, as long as the flat's Wi-Fi is working. Wi-Fi sirens and sensors send app notifications. If your internet often drops, read our guide on GSM vs Wi-Fi alarms.
Can I fit a smart lock on a rented flat's main door?
Usually not without the landlord's permission, because rim locks and smart locks are fixed to the door and frame. Use door sensors, a doorbell camera and padlocks instead, or ask the landlord first.
Prices are NavKar Systems website prices on 27 October 2026, inclusive of GST, and may change.
