1. Read Your Lease First
Your lease is the starting point. Look for a clause about subletting, assignment, or “occupancy by others.” Some leases ban it, some allow it with permission, and some say nothing. Also check who is on the lease, since roommates or a guarantor may need to agree.
2. Ask Your Landlord in Writing
Get your landlord’s written approval before you sublet. In New York, a tenant in a building with four or more apartments generally has a right to ask to sublet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. The law (Real Property Law § 226-b) lays out a process:
- Send your request by certified mail, return receipt requested.
- Include the length of the sublet, the subtenant’s name and addresses, your reason for subletting, where you will be during the sublet, and a copy of the proposed sublease.
- The landlord may ask for more information within 10 days, and must answer within 30 days.
- Under the statute, if the landlord does not respond in time, consent is treated as given.
Some buildings are excluded (for example co-ops and public housing), and rent-stabilized apartments have their own sublet rules. If your home is one of these, ask an attorney before you go ahead.
3. Pick Dates That Make Sense
Sublet Buddy is for stays of 30 days or longer. A semester abroad, a summer internship, or a few months between leases all work. See why 30 days matters.
4. Set a Fair Price
Many people sublet at or near their own rent, and furnished places often rent for a bit more. If your apartment is rent-stabilized, special limits can apply to what you may charge, so check before you set a price.
5. Write a Simple Sublease
Put the key terms in writing: the dates, the monthly rent and when it is due, the security deposit and how it is returned, who pays utilities, house rules, and what happens if someone needs to leave early. Both you and the subtenant should sign.
6. Document the Apartment
Take dated photos of the apartment before the subtenant moves in, and do a quick walk-through together. It makes move-out simpler for everyone.
7. Remember You Are Still Responsible
Even with your landlord’s approval, you usually remain responsible for the lease: the rent, and any damage. Choose your subtenant carefully, and keep your landlord informed.
Find Someone on Sublet Buddy
You can list your place in about five minutes. We review each listing before it goes live, but we don’t verify people, leases, or landlord approval, so do your own checks. The exact address is never shown publicly.