Smart Home Devices When You Move House: What to Take, Leave and Reset
8 November 2026 · By Ethan Fernandes
Selling a house with a Ring doorbell, Nest or Hive thermostat, smart locks or cameras? Or moving into one? What to remove from your accounts, what to hand over, and how to make the previous owner's devices yours.
Quick answer
Sellers should remove doorbells, cameras, thermostats and locks that stay with the house from their accounts and leave instructions. Buyers should make sure every device is removed from the previous owner's account, reset where needed, set up on their own accounts, and change all smart lock and alarm codes.
More homes now change hands with a video doorbell, a smart thermostat, cameras and smart locks built in. Handled badly, sellers can still see the doorbell camera after they've left, and buyers end up with a heating system controlled from someone else's phone.
The short version: sellers should agree with the buyer what's staying, remove those devices from their accounts and leave instructions. Buyers should make sure every smart device is removed from the previous owner's account, reset where needed, set up on their own accounts, and change every smart lock code and alarm code.
If You're Selling or Leaving
- Agree what stays. Doorbells, cameras, thermostats, smart locks and light switches are often fixtures. Make it clear in the sale.
- Remove fixed devices from your accounts in each app, such as Ring, Nest, Hive or tado°. Most have a remove or delete device option. This stops you seeing their cameras and lets them set up the devices.
- Delete saved recordings you don't want to keep.
- Take portable devices such as smart speakers and plugs, and reset them before packing.
- Leave a short note listing each device, its make and model, and where its hub is.
- Return the broadband router if your provider requires it.
If You're Buying or Moving In
- Make a list of every smart device: doorbell, cameras, thermostat, hubs, locks, lights, alarm.
- Check each one has been removed from the previous owner's account. If not, ask them to remove it, or reset it following the maker's instructions.
- Set each device up on your own accounts and your new Wi-Fi.
- Change every code: smart lock codes, alarm codes and any shared PINs.
- Check camera positions point only at your own property.
- Update firmware on cameras, locks and hubs.
Devices Tied to the Old Broadband
Some smart devices are linked to the old Wi-Fi name. When the new owner's broadband goes in, they all need reconnecting. Using the same Wi-Fi name and password on the new router helps, but smart devices left by someone else usually need resetting anyway. See smart device won't connect to Wi-Fi.
How We Handle It
When you move in, we go through every smart device the previous owners left: removing old accounts, resetting, setting everything up on your accounts and Wi-Fi, changing codes and updating firmware. If you're selling, we can prepare devices for handover. See our moving house tech setup and smart home setup.
Related Reading
Common questions
If it's staying, remove it from your Ring account and delete recordings you don't want to keep, so the buyer can set it up on their own account. If you're taking it, reset it and fill any holes.
Ask them to remove it from their account, or reset it following the maker's instructions, then set it up on your own account and Wi-Fi.
Possibly, if the doorbell is still on their account. Ask them to remove it, or reset it, then set it up on your account.
Yes, straight away, along with alarm codes and any shared PINs. You don't know who else has the old ones.
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