How to Sublet Your Apartment

What is subletting/ subleasing?

A sublet or sublease refers to a legally binding contract between you and your subletter, allowing them to live in your space and take over your rent for a specific amount of time. Subleasing happens most commonly when a renter will be away from home for an extended amount of time (over the summer, during a semester abroad) and doesn’t want to waste money paying for an apartment they aren’t living in.

Where do I begin?

Check with your landlord or apartment manager. Review your lease to see if you are able to sublease. Many apartment complexes don’t allow it. If you can’t locate this information, consult with your landlord.

Complete a sublease application. It’s important to document the agreement you have with the person subleasing your apartment. Make sure to fill out sublease forms. Most of the time you’ll also need to fill out a sublease addendum which will be added onto your current lease to document the process.

Negotiate a price. You should expect to ask for 70–80% of your normal rent but you may be able to get closer to 100% if you live in a tight housing market, or if you’re providing a furnished or very attractive apartment/room. If utilities are separate from your rent, you’ll need to negotiate these costs with your subletter.

Take pictures and move out. If you’re leaving your room/apartment partially furnished, remove all of your personal items and store them somewhere else. Don’t leave any valuables behind. Take photos so you won’t be held responsible for any damage caused by the subletter. Do a deep clean before you leave to set the standard for how the place should look when you return.

How do I find a good subletter?

The person living in your space while you’re away needs to be trustworthy and responsible. If you can’t find anyone through your connections, ask a potential subletter for personal references and a rental history.

Other tips

Give the subletter the contact information for the leasing manager/ landlord, your contact information, and directions on how to submit a maintenance request. Request that your subletter schedule a professional cleaning service to stop by after they move out.

Sources for this article were found at Rentlingo.com and Apartmenttherapy.com.