Documents / Real Estate
Sublease Agreement
Sublet your rental to a subtenant — rent, deposit, and the master-lease terms both parties need to honor.
Time
~9 min
Questions
19
Steps
5
Export
PDF · Word
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What we will cover
- 01
Sublandlord & Subtenant
The original tenant (the sublandlord) rents the property to the subtenant.
- 02
The Property & Master Lease
- 03
Term & Rent
- 04
Utilities & Condition
- 05
Legal Details
- 06
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About this document
A sublease lets you rent your place to someone else while your name stays on the original lease. It is the standard fix for a semester abroad, a job relocation mid-term, or a summer you will not be home. The document sets the subtenant's rent, deposit, start and end dates, and utilities, and passes the master lease's rules through so the subtenant is bound by the same obligations you signed up for.
The part people skip is consent. Most leases require the landlord's prior written approval to sublet, and subletting without it is a breach that can put you and your subtenant out. The sublease also cannot run past the day your own lease ends. Whatever happens — unpaid rent, a hole in the wall, a noise complaint — you remain fully responsible to the landlord, which is why screening the subtenant matters as much as the paperwork.
Common questions
Do I need my landlord's permission to sublet?+
Almost always, and it should be in writing rather than a verbal yes. Many leases prohibit subletting outright; others allow it with landlord approval. Some states and cities give tenants a limited right to sublet and require the landlord not to withhold consent unreasonably, so check local law before assuming a flat refusal is the end of it.
Am I still responsible if my subtenant doesn't pay rent or damages the place?+
Yes. Your obligations under the master lease do not transfer — the landlord looks to you for rent and repairs regardless of what the subtenant does. The sublease gives you the right to collect from the subtenant and to apply their deposit against damage, but the rent has to reach the landlord on time either way.
What is the difference between a sublease and an assignment?+
A sublease keeps you in the middle: the subtenant pays you, you pay the landlord, and you stay liable until the lease ends. An assignment transfers the remainder of the lease to the new tenant, who then deals with the landlord directly — though in many states you stay liable unless the landlord releases you in writing. If you are leaving for good, an assignment with a written release is the cleaner exit.
General information, not legal advice — laws vary by state and change over time.
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