Property management & leasing
Sublease: Definition & Example
Also called: Sublet
What Is a Sublease?
A sublease is an arrangement where a current tenant rents all or part of their unit to another person, the subtenant, while remaining responsible to the landlord under the original lease.
What does sublease mean?
In a sublease, the original tenant becomes a landlord to the subtenant. The subtenant usually pays rent to the original tenant, who continues to pay the landlord. If the subtenant stops paying or damages the unit, the original tenant is still on the hook.
Most leases require the landlord’s written consent before subletting, and some prohibit it entirely. Some jurisdictions limit a landlord’s ability to refuse a reasonable sublet request.
A sublease is different from a lease assignment. In an assignment, the original tenant transfers the whole lease to someone new and, if the landlord releases them, is no longer responsible.
Sublease example
A tenant takes a four-month work assignment in another city. With written approval from the landlord, she sublets her apartment to a graduate student for $1,300 per month. She keeps paying the landlord $1,300, and if the student leaves early, she still owes the rent.
Related terms
- Lease AgreementA lease agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant that sets the rent, the term, and the rules each side must follow while the tenant occupies the property.
- ApplicantAn applicant is a person who formally asks to rent a property, borrow money, or join a program by submitting an application and the information the decision-maker requests.
- Tenant ScreeningTenant screening is the process landlords use to evaluate rental applicants, typically by reviewing identity, income, rental history, credit, and background information against written criteria.
- Month-to-Month TenancyA month-to-month tenancy is a rental arrangement with no fixed end date that renews automatically each month until the landlord or tenant gives proper notice to end it.
Sublease FAQ
- Do landlords screen subtenants?
- Often, yes. Landlords who consent to a sublet commonly ask the subtenant to complete an application and go through the same income and background screening as other applicants.
