What Is Subletting and How Does It Work? A Renter’s Guide

Updated: June 28, 2026 | The Trulia Team

Life often doesn’t line up perfectly with a 12-month lease. You signed a lease with every intention of staying the full year. But maybe you’ve just landed a three-month internship in another city, got approved for a semester abroad, or planned an extended trip. Whatever the reason, you might find yourself stuck paying rent for a place you won’t be living in.

That’s where subletting comes in. Instead of paying for an empty apartment, or eating a costly lease-break fee, you can have someone else temporarily cover the rent. 

But subletting isn’t as simple as handing over the keys. It involves money, legal obligations, and local rules that vary widely from city to city. If you sublet in the wrong way, it can cause real problems. Done right, it can save you thousands of dollars. This guide runs through what you need to know.

Key Takeaways

• Subletting means renting out your apartment (or part of it) to someone not named on your lease, while your name stays on the original lease.
• You generally remain responsible for the rent and the condition of the property even after you hand over the keys. If your subletter doesn’t pay or causes damage, your landlord holds you accountable.
• Most landlords require that you get their written permission to sublet. Skipping that step can cause you problems (and even eviction) even if your subletter is a model tenant.
• It is typical to charge 70% to 80% of your normal rent when subletting, but furnished units and peak-season, high-demand markets can command more, while off-season or remote sublets may go for less.

What Is Subletting?

Subletting means temporarily renting all or part of your leased property to someone else who isn’t named on your original lease. You could be renting out your entire apartment while you are away, or renting out one room to a roommate. The person you sublet to is called a subletter or a subtenant. The subletter pays rent for an agreed period, but your name stays on the lease.

Three sets of people are involved:

• Original tenant (sublessor): You, the person who signed the lease.
• Subletter (sublessee/subtenant): The person renting from you temporarily.
• Landlord/property owner: The individual or company that owns the rental and holds your lease.

The subletter typically signs an agreement with you, not your landlord. That means you remain responsible for paying rent and maintaining the property. If your subletter misses a payment or damages the unit, your landlord will be asking you for the rent or holding you accountable for the damage, not the sublettor.

Subletting vs. Assignment vs. Adding a Roommate

These terms get used interchangeably, but the differences matter, especially for liability.

• Subletting vs. assignment: A lease assignment permanently transfers your lease to a new tenant, who then deals directly with the landlord. Subletting keeps you on the hook. While a lease assignment suits a permanent move, subletting is more suited to a temporary move.
• Subletting vs. adding a roommate: If you find a roommate but do not add them to your original lease, then you are subletting to the roommate. You can also add a roommate to your original lease, which gives them a direct relationship with the landlord.

Generally, it works like the below: 

Arrangement	Who signs with the new person	Who is responsible to the landlord	Who pays the landlord
Sublet	You	You	You (subletter pays you)
Assignment	Landlord	The new tenant	The new tenant directly
Add a roommate to the lease	You and/or landlord	Shared between co-tenants	Co-tenants (often jointly)

Why People Sublet

Sometimes people sublet when they have a lease but need to leave for a period of time, for an internship, studying abroad, temporary job relocation, or a long trip. People also sublet if they have a long-term lease in a place that they don’t want to give up, even though they are often away. Others rent out a spare room to offset rent. For landlords, an approved sublet keeps rent flowing and the unit occupied and maintained rather than sitting empty. Handled responsibly, it can be a win-win.

Is Subletting Allowed?

Subletting is generally permitted, but the rules vary dramatically by state, city, and type of property. The first two things to do are: read your lease, then get written permission. Typically, you are required to get your landlord’s consent before subletting the place. 

It is worth paying attention to the specific rules. For example, in New York City, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board, tenants are typically entitled to request permission to sublet from the owner, and the owner cannot unreasonably refuse. But it is important to inform the owner by certified mail at least 30 days before the proposed sublet starts. There are some cases in New York City where tenants are not entitled to sublet, including co-ops and buildings with less than four units.

Subletting vs. Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb): Know the Line

A traditional sublet and listing your place on Airbnb or VRBO are not the same thing. If your plan looks more like a rotating cast of weekend guests than one person living there for the summer, you’re typically not subletting. You’re running a short-term vacation rental, which are often excluded outright by landlords, HOAs, and local ordinances. For example, San Francisco rules do not permit subletting for tourist use for periods less than 30 days. A true sublet is a single subletter occupying the unit for a defined, longer stretch under one agreement.

How to Sublet: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Get Landlord Approval in Writing

Send a written request that includes the sublet dates, the subletter’s name and contact info. You may be required to provide other information, like the reason for the sublet request, your address during the sublease, and a copy of the sublease agreement. So, it is worth asking for what is required or checking out the requirements yourself. A brief note on why the subtenant is a responsible tenant can also be helpful. Ask your landlord to reply in writing too, and keep copies of all correspondence. 

2. Decide What to Charge

Research market rates for comparable units nearby and adjust for seasonality. For example, based on Trulia data, in June 2026, the average rent for a 2 bedroom in Chicago is $2,100. However, the rent in Chicago typically peaks in Summer, and the rent for a 2 bedroom in January was $1,950. So, if you are subletting in the winter, you should generally expect the price to be cheaper than in the summer, which will impact how much of your rent you can offset. 

Unless you live in a high-demand rental market, most subletters don’t pay the full rent for the apartment. It’s typical to charge 70% to 80% of your normal rent when subletting. You can always ask for the full rent, but don’t be surprised if potential subletters negotiate the rent down a bit. 

Don’t forget to add in enough to cover utilities if you pay those separately from the rent. Utilities can cost several hundred dollars a month. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average electricity bill was about $140 per month in 2024. Also, confirm whether local law caps what you can charge before you set a number. 

3. Set the sublet terms.

Your landlord may have their own sublease templates ready for you to fill in and use with a subletter. In most cases, the subletter will sign that agreement with you instead of the landlord. That means the liability for keeping the place in order (and paid for) is still ultimately on you, so make sure the following things are included:

• Start and end dates of sublet
• Name of subtenant
• Current home and employment address of proposed subtenant
• Reason for subletting
• The address where you’ll be during the sublet
• Written consent of any roommates or co-signers you may have
• Amount of rent to be paid, when it will be paid, and to whom
• Amount of security deposit, when it will be paid, when it will be returned, and under what circumstances funds will be deducted to pay for damage
• Any parts of your lease agreement that the subletter will be responsible for executing (mowing the lawn, for example)
• A copy of your lease

Also, make sure your landlord receives a copy of the sublease.

4. Find the right subletter.

A friend or someone you already trust can be a great subletter. Ask friends and family if they know someone looking for a place. In most cases though, you’ll find the largest pool of potential subletters by posting your place. You can list your space online or in community spaces, like your neighborhood coffee shop’s bulletin board.

If you’ve got roommates, be sure to get them in on the search process since they’ll be living with the new person. In your listing, be specific as possible about the terms of your sublease and the rules of your apartment, such as if pets are allowed and how shared spaces are managed.

5. Screen Your Subletter

If your subletter is your sibling and your landlord doesn’t feel the need to screen them, you may not have any homework to do. But if the subletter is a total stranger—or anyone you don’t totally trust—you’ll want to look into their background to feel secure about their ability and likelihood of paying the rent. If your landlord is involved, they may have their own rental application and background check process.

But if it’s up to you, here’s what you’ll want to do:

• Ask for their social security number and run a credit check. You can request a credit check from each of the three credit bureaus, Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian. Some charge fees, but it’s common to ask the potential subletter to cover the charges.
• Ask for at least three references. Call each person on their list and ask a few basic questions. Are they reliable? Do they meet deadlines? Retain employment? Take care of their living spaces? Have pets?
• Confirm their employment. Ask to see a few months of paystubs to make sure their income can cover the rent, and call their employer to be sure they still work there.
• Do an interview. This doesn’t have to be formal. You can meet over coffee and invite your roommates along, just to get a feel for if they’ll be a good fit or if you notice anything that concerns you (like if they smell like cigarettes but say they don’t smoke). Ask about their past living situations and why they’re looking to sublet now.

6. Collect a Security Deposit and Document Condition

Ask your subtenant for a security deposit in case anything happens to your place while you’re away. Snap pictures of the apartment so you’ll know what it should look like when you return.

When your subletter gives you the security deposit, be sure to put it into a safe account where you won’t accidentally spend it. If there is damage to your apartment when you return, document the damage with photos, and then get it fixed right away. Return the remaining security deposit along with documentation to prove what you spent to fix the issue.

7. Check Your Insurance

Will your rental insurance cover the belongings still in your apartment while you’re living somewhere else? It might, but be sure to examine your policy closely to be sure. If not, you may want to change your policy or remove everything that belongs to you, just in case.

8. Keep Making your Rent Payments

While you’re away, continue paying your rent as usual and have the subtenant pay you. Even if your subletter is paying 100% of your rent, you’ll still be responsible for any late fees, so paying the rent yourself and on time is the best way to ensure timely payments.

9. Build a Backup Plan

Odds are, your subletting experience will work out just fine. But because you are ultimately the responsible party, it’s smart to have a plan for what to do if anything goes awry.

Save up as much money as possible so you’ll be able to pay a month or so of rent if your subletter is late or fails to pay. And designate someone as your check-in person in case your subletter stops communicating with you. A friend, neighbor, or even the landlord can stop by to make sure they’re still there—just be sure to send a message to the subletter in advance to let them know you’re sending someone over.

Subletting can be a smart, cost-effective move when you do it right: get written landlord approval, price it to your real local market, screen your subletter, put everything in a signed agreement, and keep paying your own rent. Cover those bases and you protect both your wallet and your rental record. Subletting is one kind of special arrangement you can make with a lease. Rent to own is another. Find out how rent to own homes work in our next guide.