A sublease is a secondary lease wherein the tenant(s) on the primary lease agree to designate a small portion of the whole lease to a secondary tenant or tenants. A sublease can be for the beginning of a primary lease, end of a primary lease or have start and end points within the primary lease.
Sometimes, a sublease is for the entire apartment, other times, it's for only part of the unit.
A sublease might sound like a great way to make a little extra cash or fill empty space in your rental, but is it even legal? It depends on the terms of your lease. In many cases, your lease will outline specific guidelines around occupancy — who can live in the unit, who is considered a "guest" and how long a "guest" is permitted.
In this same vein, it will probably address the topic of subleasing. If your lease doesn't explicitly prohibit subleasing, it's usually allowed. If you're in doubt, you can always contact your landlord or the property owner to be 100 percent certain.
There are many different reasons one would choose to sublease their apartment. Whether for financial or convenience purposes, here are a few of the most common reasons for subleasing:
In many ways, a sublease can serve a similar purpose to a short term lease for both primary tenants and subletting tenants. However, a short-term lease is a very different type of agreement.
When you sublease your rental, you're still responsible for paying the rent each month — even if your sublet tenants don't pay you. A short-term lease is a direct agreement between the renters and the property owners.
Timothy Harris is a freelance writer based in Albuquerque. He brings a professional background in event marketing, residential real estate and journalism to the table to provide useful and relevant content for the modern renter. Timothy has previously written content for Karsten & Associates in New Mexico and Up 'til Dawn, a philanthropic fundraiser that benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.