In theory, you should never sign a rental agreement without the intention of living in the apartment for a long time. But lies happen, and sublet your apartment can allow you to take care of longer jobs elsewhere while another tenant occupies your space (and pays rent) without breaking your lease.
Whatever the reason to sublet – a long summer vacation, a temporary move, a permanent move before your existing lease expires – you need to need ask for permission from your landlord before you bring a lodger into your apartment. The process will sound familiar to most home owners, but the first time asking the question you may find this intimidating. Here are some important factors to consider when asking your landlord to sublet your home.
How does subletting (or subletting) work?
It is important to understand that subletting is a legal process. It is imperative to understand your rights as a tenant before seeking permission to sublet, so make sure you do your research. The laws that govern this vary between states and counties, but the online resource Tenant.net is there a general look in the case of subletting to your rights. In some cases, laws apply to buildings of a certain size, such as apartment buildings with four or more units. If you find yourself in a different situation (such as renting an entire house), you should contact a housing lawyer to see what options are available to you.
An important point is that, as a tenant, you may have the right to sublet your apartment, whether your landlord likes it or not. As Tenant.net explained in May, “[e]Even if your lease prohibits it, you have the right to sublet your home and the lease term is null and void. ”Although the site is aimed at property managers, you can view a list of state sublet permits and restrictions LandlordStudio.
What to include in your sublease request
To start the process, you’ll need to submit a formal sublease application in the form of a letter to your landlord or property owner (depending on what’s on your rental agreement). The letter must contain some important details and some Basic information:
- Your name
- Apartment details
- Length of the terms
- Name of the signature and their contact details
If you share your place, the Tenant Resource Website suggests including an approval form signed by your roommate stating that they have consented to the sublet process. It is also important to provide the contact details of your whereabouts during the duration of the sublease contract. Including the reason why you will be leaving your apartment longer and your choice of subtenant will give the landlord all the details they need to consider your request.
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Pages like Rent.com and Housing guide Offer templates for sublet inquiries to take the guesswork out of putting your letter together.
What to expect after submitting your sublease application
After submitting your application, it will be useful to know the laws in your state or county. At this point, the landlord usually has 10 days to request further information and 30 days to provide an answer. If they refuse despite providing a valid reason, you can take action, but depending on how the landlord declines the application, you can lose.
If you feel that there is no reasonable reason to reject you, you can appeal your decision and urge your application to be approved, although the course of action is different. Housing guide Reports, “In bigger cities like Chicago and New York you can sublet your apartment even if the lease prohibits it and your property manager refuses permission … as long as the current tenant can prove that the subtenant is equally qualified.”
