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Leaving Before Your Lease Ends

Moving out early? Sublet the rest of your lease.

Don’t pay rent on an empty apartment. Find a renter for the months you have left, agree on a deal in the app, and get paid every 30 days.

Sublet the Rest of My LeaseHow It Works

New York City · 30+ night stays · Always get your landlord’s written approval first.

Why It Matters

Five months left at $3,000 a month is $15,000.

That is what you can still owe on a lease you are not living in. A sublet at your rent covers it month by month, instead of paying for two places at once.

  • 30+ NightsBuilt for the months you have left, not weekend stays.
  • Every 30 DaysRent is charged from move-in and your share goes to your bank.
  • You ChooseChat first, agree on dates and price, then the renter secures it.

How It Works

From Lease You’re Leaving to Rent That’s Covered

  1. 01

    Check Your Lease and Building

    Find the sublet clause in your lease. If your building has four or more apartments, New York law gives you the right to ask your landlord.

  2. 02

    List the Rest of Your Term

    Tell us your dates, from move-out day to the end of your lease. It takes about five minutes, and we review every listing and email you before anything goes live.

  3. 03

    Get Matched and Agree on a Deal

    Renters ask to connect. You chat in the app, agree on dates and a price, and the renter secures the deal for $5.

  4. 04

    Get Your Landlord’s Written OK

    Send the request with the renter’s details and a copy of the sublease. Wait for written approval before anyone moves in.

  5. 05

    Rent Comes In Every 30 Days

    The renter pays through Sublet Buddy, and your share goes to your bank after move-in. Your rent stays covered while you are gone.

Is it allowed?

What New York Law Says

If your building has four or more apartments, New York’s Real Property Law § 226-b gives you the right to ask your landlord to sublet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Send your request by certified mail, return receipt requested. The landlord can ask for more information within 10 days and must answer within 30. No answer in time counts as consent under the statute.

Rent-stabilized?

You have to keep the apartment as your primary residence to sublet it. If you are leaving for good, subletting usually is not an option. See the Rent Guidelines Board FAQ and ask HCR first.

Want out completely?

That is a lease takeover (assignment). Your landlord can say no without a reason, but if they refuse unreasonably, § 226-b says they must release you from the lease if you ask, on 30 days’ notice.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by building and lease. Co-ops and public housing have their own rules. Ask a New York attorney about your situation.

Questions

Can I sublet my apartment if I’m moving out before my lease ends?

Often, yes. In New York, a tenant in a building with four or more apartments has the right to ask to sublet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse (Real Property Law § 226-b). You need your landlord’s written approval first. Your lease and your building type also matter, so read your lease before you start.

How do I ask my landlord for permission to sublet?

Under § 226-b you send the request by certified mail, return receipt requested. It includes the sublet dates, the subtenant’s name and addresses, why you are subletting, where you will be, written consent from any co-tenant or guarantor, and a copy of the proposed sublease. The landlord may ask for more information within 10 days and must answer within 30 days. If the landlord does not answer in time, the law treats that as consent.

What if my apartment is rent-stabilized?

Rent-stabilized tenants must keep the apartment as their primary residence to sublet it. If you are leaving for good, subletting the rest of your lease usually is not an option, and you could put your tenancy at risk. Talk to NYS Homes and Community Renewal or a tenant attorney first.

What is the difference between a sublet and a lease takeover?

In a sublet, you stay on the lease and the renter pays you; you remain responsible to your landlord. In a lease takeover (an assignment), the new tenant takes over the lease and you are released. A landlord can refuse an assignment without giving a reason, but under § 226-b, if they unreasonably refuse, they must release you from the lease if you ask, on 30 days’ notice.

How long does the sublet have to be?

Sublet Buddy is for stays of 30 nights or more. Subletting the remaining months of a lease is exactly what it is built for.

What does it cost to list?

You pay only when rent is paid: Sublet Buddy keeps a 10% Concierge Fee from each payout to you (8.5% with a creator code). Renters pay no fee to Sublet Buddy.

How do I get paid?

The renter pays rent through Sublet Buddy every 30 days from move-in. Your share is sent to your bank after move-in day, so you are not chasing payments.

Cover the rest of your lease.

List your place in about five minutes. We review it and email you before anything goes live.

Sublet the Rest of My Lease

Questions? support@subletbuddy.com · Read how to sublet in NYC