Rules to Tell Your Renters About Subletting

By Victoria Robertson on March 14, 2018

Subletting an apartment is a stressful endeavor for college students. That being said, there are unwritten (and written) rules to tell your renters about subletting that would greatly assist them in making the right decisions for both them and their roommate(s).

As a landlord, your knowledge and experience on the subject will not only assist your renters in making the best decisions for themselves and the occupants of their apartment, but also reflect back positively on you when it comes time for referrals and re-signing of leases.

For these reasons, here are the unwritten (and written) rules to tell your renters about subletting.

Photo Via: Pixabay.com

1. Subletting terms and conditions

Not all leasing agencies allow tenants to sublet their apartment. Depending on your specific agency’s stance, it’s important to let your renters know what the terms and conditions related to subletting the apartment are.

For example, if you require all parties to come in and sign a sublet agreement, disclose this information up front so that your renters can plan for such a circumstance in advance. In addition, if there are any stipulations, make sure these are clearly defined. In other words, avoid “small print” type scenarios and simply lay out the rules for your renters so there are no ambiguities for them to argue later.

2. Division of costs

In most cases, signing a sublet agreement will transfer the rent responsibility to the individual subletting the apartment. However, if there is a default clause in which your renter would be responsible in the event the sublet does not pay the rent in a given time period, these stipulations need to be laid out and explained to the renter in advance.

Again, this goes hand in hand with the terms and conditions of subletting an apartment – there should be no items left up to interpretation. Clearly define all division of cost scenarios so that everyone in the agreement is on the same page.

3. Liability

More often than not, a lease’s end date brings along with it cleaning costs and damage payments. College students are especially notorious for such incurred costs. That being said, when you are subletting an apartment, do these costs fall to the original renter, or the sublet?

Again, these are questions that need to be answered prior to allowing your renters to sublet the apartment. Clearly define who is liable for what and answer any additional questions your renters may have to clear up any confusion on the subject.

4. Utility transfer

This is typically something outside of the lease (for items not included in monthly rent such as cable costs, gas, electric, water and any other utilities) but that you should still assist your renters in understanding.

Let them know any best practices you have for ensuring utilizes are covered. While it’s not your responsibility to ensure these are covered, providing renters with this helpful information up front can help them to avoid potential problems in signing over their apartment to a sublet.

5. Get it in writing

Again, even if your agency doesn’t require a signed sublet agreement, suggesting to your renters that they get all information in writing will only work to help in the long run. This doesn’t only apply to rent, but also utilities and other responsibilities related to the apartment (such as incurred costs).

Simply providing your renters with your opinions and experiences in these areas will work to assist them in future leases and prevent any problem areas in their current lease as well.

6. Work with your roommates

Last, but definitely not least, you must stress the importance of all roommates being in agreement when it comes to subletting an apartment. Whether you require sublets sign a form in the leasing office or not, roommate conflicts can fall on your shoulders, so stressing this importance from the beginning is essential.

Again, laying the rules out from the beginning for your renters demonstrates your transparency as well as provides renters an opportunity to plan out their school year in advance, without the added pressures of dealing with subletting an apartment. The more information you are able to provide them with from the beginning, the better. It’s also important to provide a space in which renters can ask questions and raise concerns without issue.

Informing your renters about subletting rules helps to improve your relationship with your renters as well as eliminates potential problems in subletting. Especially when you are dealing with first-time renters, it’s important not to assume they understand the subletting process and to take the time to sit down with them and go over the rules (both written and unwritten) to assist them in this process.

For this reason, follow this list of rules to tell your renters about subletting, as well as any additional rules unique to your apartment complex, and it will undoubtedly be smooth sailing from here on out!

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