Subletting Your Apartment to the Right Person

When you get that email message from your boss telling you that you’ll be traveling out of town for several weeks or more, one of the first things you need to think about is your apartment. Your rent is probably your most significant expense. You won’t want to continue to empty your bank account for your landlord if you don’t have to. Instead, you can find someone to sublease your apartment while you’re away. Here are some tips to finding the perfect sublettor for your apartment.

Make sure you’re allowed to sublet. Unfortunately, many landlords prohibit tenants from subletting their apartments. You’ll need to check your lease to be sure. If subletting is permitted in your building, you’ll probably have to notify your landlord about your intention to sublet. If subletting is not permitted, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether it’s worthwhile to do it anyway. If your landlord doesn’t live in the building, doesn’t know the tenants well, or operates a large number of units, you’ll probably be able to get away with it. If you’re going to sublet under the radar, be careful about where you post advertisements about the sublet (the apartment bulletin board is probably not a great idea). If you’re posting an online ad, note the general location of the apartment, but don’t give the exact address.

Who is your ideal sublettor? Before you post an ad, figure out what you’re looking for. First, you want someone who shares the same timeframe as you do. If the dates you’ll be away are undefined, you’ll need to find someone who is comfortable with that uncertainty. Do you prefer male or female sublettors? What about a couple in your studio apartment? Of course, if you have roommates, they’ll play a major role in selecting the right person. Many people who sublet have just moved to a new city and are looking for work. They may want to get a full-time job before they rent an apartment. Are you comfortable with someone who is unemployed, spending hours a day among your belongings in the apartment while he or she looks for work? Remember, you will probably sublet your apartment with all your furniture, most of your clothing and many personal items. When people consider this, many decide that they’d prefer only to sublet to people they know. They turn first to friends, then friends of friends, and finally to a public ad if the room hasn’t been filled.

Finding the right person. If you’d prefer to sublet to a friend or even to someone that knows someone you know, the process is fairly straightforward. Send a mass email message and encourage friends to forward it to people who might be interested. Post the ad on the bulletin board at work. Mention it at social gatherings — you never know who might be in earshot. The most important thing is to start early. As soon as you know you won’t be around, start looking.

If you’ve tried to find someone in your social circle and have come up short, you’ll have to broaden the search. Luckily, you have a lot of options. You can post an ad in the “Apartment Homes for Rent” sections of the local newspaper or post ads in the neighborhood. Of course, in the internet age, many people turn to sites like Craigslist and other apartment search sites to sublet and rent apartments. Posting on the Internet is probably your cheapest option. Sites like Craigslist don’t charge a fee for your listing. These sites also have specific sections for people looking to sublet apartments. If you decide to post online, make sure you can set aside adequate time to show the apartment after you post the ad. In cities like New York and San Francisco, the rental market is saturated. You may receive dozens of phone calls and emails within a day of posting your ad. This is especially true in the summer, when college students are on summer break and recent graduates are looking for temporary housing.

Should you have a contract? After you’ve found the right person, you might consider having them sign a contract for their tenancy in your apartment. This contract will outline the period of the sublease, the expenses the sublettor is responsible for and other conditions that come with the lease. Sample contracts can be found here: https://www.doyourownwill.com/forms/sublease.html and https://www.floridapirg.org/consumer/renters/rrappd.htm. You can also use the current lease you signed with your landlord as a model. If your landlord permits subletting, you should inform him of your intention and see if he has a template he prefers to use (he will probably have to sign it as well). One of the disadvantages of subletting without your landlord’s consent is that any contract you draw up with a sublettor may be invalid, since the act of subletting your apartment wasn’t permitted in the first place. Still, having your arrangement solidified in writing can help prevent misunderstandings. Asking for a security deposit can also ensure that you have some protection in case of default or damage. Remember to have your sublettor write his/her rent check to you; you should still send your rent checks to the landlord in your own name.

Finding a sublettor is hard work, but it’s worth the extra effort to save on rent. To ensure the best chances for success, start early and set aside time to screen potential candidates. If all else fails, you can reduce your rent and attract a sublettor with a great last-minute deal.