Sublets
What is a sublet and how does it work?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
A sublet is when a tenant rents all or part of their place to someone else for part of their lease, usually while they are away. The original tenant stays on the lease and stays responsible to the landlord, and the subtenant pays rent to the original tenant under a separate sublease agreement.
Three people are involved, and it helps to know who owes what to whom:
- The landlord has a lease with the original tenant, and nothing directly with the subtenant in most sublets.
- The original tenant (sometimes called the sublessor) still owes the landlord rent and is responsible for the unit, including any damage the subtenant causes.
- The subtenant (or sublessee) has a sublease with the original tenant and pays them, or pays the landlord directly if everyone agrees.
Sublets usually run from a few weeks to several months: a summer while a student is home, a semester abroad, a work assignment. The subtenant's rights can only be as good as the original tenant's. If the main lease ends or the tenant is evicted, the sublet generally ends too.
"Sublet" is often used loosely in housing groups for any short-term room, including rooms that the landlord rents directly or leases someone is trying to hand over for good. When you see one, ask which it is, since the paperwork and your protections differ. Our guide to finding a sublet safely covers what to check.
Want the whole picture? Read How to Find a Sublet or Roommate on Facebook Safely.