Picture this: You finally secure the New York City apartment of your dreams when you’re called out of town for a temporary job. Or maybe you find yourself needing to unexpectedly travel for a family emergency, leaving your unit sitting empty for a significant stretch. You don’t want to give up your apartment entirely, but you also don’t want to eat the cost of rent and utilities on a space you won’t be occupying for an extended period of time. Enter a subletter. Finding an occupant to take over your lease temporarily can potentially be a great way to prevent money loss — and maybe even ensure that your plants are watered, too! But there are inherent risks involved in subletting, and many factors to consider before you decide to do so. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to sublet your apartment in NYC. 

Are You Allowed to Sublet Your Apartment?

Before you start ready-ing your space and putting out feelers to potential subletters, you should first do your due-diligence to find out if a sublease is even allowed under your current rental agreement. Dig out your signed lease agreement from your filing cabinet or inbox and give it a thorough read for any language around subletting. If there’s nothing that specifically mentions it, or if the lease is unclear, go ahead and ask your landlord directly. 

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Greenwood

168 21st Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Fort Greene

107 South Elliott Place

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Windsor Terrace

21 East 4th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Columbia St Waterfront District

82 Congress Street

$2,795 No Fee

Studio |

1

Weeksville

165 Schenectady Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

3 |

1

Greenpoint

47 Russell Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Gravesend

265 Quentin Road

$1,870 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

100 Jefferson Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

109 Troutman Street

$2,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Gravesend

1701 West 3rd Street

$1,870 No Fee

1 |

1

Bath Beach

8633 21st Avenue

$1,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

Do You Need to Tell Your Landlord?

Yes. Even if your lease explicitly allows you to sublet, it’s a good idea to tell your landlord about your plans. The reason being that it can help foster easier communication, leading to better care for your unit. For example, your subletter and landlord might need to coordinate directly should there be any maintenance issues while you’re gone. It will also help building management keep tabs on who’s coming in and out of the building, for security reasons.

We recommend receiving your landlord’s explicit consent to a sublease in the form of a written agreement. A verbal go-ahead is great, but a tangible, easy-to-reference record is always the safest bet.  

How to Find a Subletter

Finding a suitable subletter can happen one of many different ways. News of your vacancy could spread through word of mouth. You could also post details and photos of your spot on reputable websites and wait for interested parties to reach out. There are plenty of trustworthy websites that can help you list your sublease on your own, such as Leasebreak.com, Sublet.com, SpareRoom.com and Craigslist. Remember: It’s important to take clear, well-lit photos that accurately represent the space you’re subleasing. Some websites even allow you to upload video and showcase a “3D” tour of your apartment. 

Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Lincoln Square

68 West 69th Street

$2,495 No Fee

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

444 West 167th Street

$2,950 No Fee

2 |

1

East Village

542 East 11th Street

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

249 East 2nd Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

205 Avenue B

$2,295 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

408 East 88th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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2

Central Harlem

2299 Adam C Powell Boulevard

$1,595 No Fee

Studio |

0

East Harlem

163 East 99th Street

$1,925 No Fee

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1

East Village

223 Second Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

164 East 112th Street

$2,990 No Fee

2 |

1

Hudson Yards

407 West 39th Street

$2,695 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fort George

612 West 182nd Street

$2,995 No Fee

3 |

1

Speciality and/or invite-only social media groups can also be a good place to advertise your sublet. Many schools and universities have alumni-specific housing boards for graduates who move to big cities. You could also turn to locale or neighborhood specific pages, such as the Gypsy Housing NYC Facebook group. If you’ve never heard of it, ask around: Chances are you probably have a few friends who could get you an invite to the closed group. Just be diligent, as many imitation scam accounts have been created in recent years!

You could also use your own social media profiles to spread the word about your available sublet. Posting details and photos of your apartment to your Instagram stories or LinkedIn profile narrows your potential scope to include friends, family, coworkers, community members and friends-of-friends. While there is certainly comfort to be had in subleasing to someone in your immediate network versus a total stranger, you should also prepare yourself for the chance of hard conversations. Don’t choose a friend, or a friend-of-a-friend, to be your subletter if you’re uncomfortable with the possibility of conflict. 

Most potential subletters will want to take an in-person tour of the home before they agree to any terms. Make them feel welcome in your space and — as always when meeting new people — be sure to use common sense.

Queens Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Ditmars-Steinway

37-09 23rd Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-23 43rd Street

$2,699 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

28-34 42nd Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

32-63 36th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

37-01 30th Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

32-82 30th Street

$2,395 No Fee

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

34-36 70th Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Woodside

65-25 Roosevelt Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

67-40 Yellowstone Boulevard

$2,695 No Fee

2 |

1

Briarwood

139-21 85 Drive

$1,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

Oakland Gardens

221-08 64th Avenue

$2,595 No Fee

2 |

1

What to Look for in a Subletter

So you’ve taken excellent photos of your space, posted them on a reputable website or shared them with your personal network, and the responses are rolling in. Sweet! But how can you tell who is going to be a responsible subletter in your space? While there’s always an inherent risk in subleasing, there are ways that you can make the best possible decision. Below we outline some tips on how to sublet your apartment to an ideal occupant: 

• Good, reliable communication is always a win: Present-day actions can be a helpful predictor of future behavior, so we recommend paying attention to a person’s communication style from the jump. It’s always a green flag if a potential subletter is responsive in their emails and/or texts, shows up to any viewing appointments on time and is generally respectful in their demeanor. 

• Don’t be afraid to ask for references: Chatting with a potential subletter’s old roommates can help you get a sense of the type of tenant they could be. If past house dwellers praise a person’s reliability and cleanliness, odds are that person will turn in their rent on time and keep your apartment tidy. 

• Be upfront about your expectations and boundaries: If you have a specific idea of the type of person you want to sublet your space to (i.e. a non-smoker), it’s up to you to clearly and specifically state that up front. You won’t find your perfect subletter by keeping silent about the things that are most important to you. 

How to Protect Yourself From Bad Subletters

Of course, there’s always a risk of bad apples when subletting in the Big Apple. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from damage and dismay. StreetEasy is not providing legal advice, so consulting with an attorney may be appropriate, especially if you’re considering writing up a sublease contract. 

One way to sublet your apartment while protecting yourself and your space as much as possible is to collect a security deposit from the subletter. A security deposit is a returnable sum of money that is collected at the beginning of a rental period, in case of property loss or damage. Asking for a security deposit incentivizes the subletter to take good care of your space and thus receive their money back at the end of their stay. 

Jersey City and Hoboken Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Jersey City

169 Fairview Avenue

$1,400 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

58 Wales Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

3 |

1

Hoboken

1034 Washington Street

$2,795 No Fee

2 |

1

Hoboken

805 Park Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

West Side

27 Corbin Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

6

Jersey City

32 Magnolia Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

The Heights

84 Reservoir Avenue

$2,699 No Fee

3 |

1

Newport

40 Newport Parkway

$2,915 No Fee

Studio |

1

Newport

40 Newport Parkway

$2,715 No Fee

Studio |

1

Historic Downtown

204 10th Street

$2,885 No Fee

1 |

1

Historic Downtown

204 10th Street

$2,845 No Fee

1 |

1

Paulus Hook

116 Morris Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Subletting in NYC: It’s a Personal Choice

So now you know how to sublet your apartment in New York City! While there are multiple steps to creating a successful sublet, putting in the work up front can sometimes pay off in the long run. However, the decision to sublet your space is deeply personal, made all the more subjective by your individual budget, travel plans and preferences. Whatever you decide, StreetEasy’s got more tips and advice for renters here!

_{Disclaimer: This content is not intended to provide legal, financial, or real estate advice. It is for information purposes only, and any links provided are for the users’ convenience. Please seek the services of a legal, accounting, or real estate professional before any real estate transaction.}