How to Sublet Your Apartment in New York City, New York
New York real estate can be hard to come by, and if you need to leave your apartment for a short time, it is not always ideal to give it up completely. In some cases, you might be able to sublet your apartment to another tenant while you are away. Subletting means that the apartment lease stays in your name, but someone else lives in the apartment and pays you the rent, which you then forward to the landlord.
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Instructions
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Read your lease, condo association or co-op paperwork. In some cases, you may be prohibited from subletting your apartment.
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Request permission from your landlord to sublet your apartment. Your request must be submitted in writing, and include how long you plan to sublease, the reason for the sublease, and a copy of the sublease you'll use with the subletter.
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Obtain the landlord's permission in writing. Be sure that you are clear on the rules, regulations and expectations of you and the person who sublets your apartment.
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Advertise your sublet. Several online sites are devoted to sublet rentals, or you can advertise in the newspaper or online classified sites.
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Interview prospective subletters. Make sure that any prospective tenants meet the qualifications established by your building management. Your landlord may require that your subletter complete a questionnaire or application, and request more information, including a credit check, depending on the information provided.
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Draw up an agreement with the subletter that covers the monthly rent, the payment due date, deposits due and terms and conditions. If you are subletting your apartment with furnishings, make a list of the items you are leaving behind and their condition to help prevent disputes later.
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Collect the rent money from your subletter each month, and forward it on to your landlord. In some cases, your landlord may accept payments directly from your tenants.
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Tips & Warnings
Rent-stabilized apartments can be sublet for up to two years in any four-year period, provided the landlord provides permission. The law says that landlords cannot unreasonably withhold consent, but you have to follow the specific procedure to request a sublet.
If you live in a condo or a co-op building, it is unlikely that your board or building management will allow you to sublet your apartment. If you sublet anyway, without permission, both you and the subletter could face eviction.
References
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