How to Safely Sublet an Apartment Through Craigslist

Be safe when subletting an apartment through Craigslist.

If you are interested in subletting your apartment and have already gotten permission from your landlord, you can post your listing on Craigslist.org. Apartment listings are one of the many services that this free online service provides both locally and around the world. Even with your landlord's permission to sublet, you are financially liable for the rent and maintenance of your apartment. Once you post your listing on Craigslist, you are inviting strangers to take advantage of the opportunity. For these reasons, you need to take steps to protect yourself, both personally and financially.

Instructions

1. Guard your personal safety. Craigslist recommends that you have someone present when you are showing the prospective sublessee the apartment. Chances are that the visit will go smoothly but it is always best not to be alone in an apartment with someone you don't know.

2. Ask for a deposit, preferably by check, and wait until it clears before handing over the keys. A large sum paid in cash could be a red flag since most people do not carry large amounts of cash on them. Money orders may make you feel more secure, but money orders are easily attainable regardless of credit status and they can also be counterfeited. Craigslist has no role in guaranteeing or facilitating financial transactions so it is up to you to be sure that the money transfer is legitimate.

3. Run a credit check. It is not uncommon to request a nominal fee from a prospective renter to run a credit check. A good credit rating does not necessarily indicate that the person is trustworthy, but it is one way to feel secure about getting the rent on time each month. In addition, requiring a credit check will most likely discourage those with very poor ratings from filling out an application.

4. Ask for references from employers and former landlords and check them. In addition to your financial responsibility as the legal tenant, you are also responsible for your sublessee's conduct while he is occupying the apartment. If any complaints arise from neighbors, the landlord will expect you to handle them.

5. Always trust your instincts. Craigslist strongly recommends that you meet individuals in person to interview them. When you do, ask them why they want to sublet rather than renting their own apartment. Our perception of a person is often obtained by intangibles like body language or the way a person sounds on the phone. If the initial face-to-face interview, phone or email interaction makes you uneasy or just doesn't feel right, pass on that candidate and look for another.

References

• Craigslist: About Safety
• Craigslist: About Scams
• Apartment Ratings: How To Sublet Your Apartment