Subleasing in the Twin Cities
Summer terms and study abroad make subleasing common near campus. Here are the basics before you sublet or take one on.
Subleasing is common near the U of M during summer and study-abroad terms, when students leave for a few months but hold a 12-month lease. A sublease lets someone else occupy your unit while, under most leases, you remain responsible to your landlord for the rent and any damage. Before subletting, check your lease and get written landlord approval, because many leases restrict or prohibit it.
You stay responsible
In a typical sublease, you (the original tenant) remain on the hook to your landlord, and the subtenant pays you. If the subtenant stops paying or damages the unit, the landlord looks to you, not to them. That is the single most important thing to understand before subletting.
Subleasing is most common around summer, when students leave the Twin Cities but their 12-month lease continues. Study-abroad semesters create the same situation. Demand for summer sublets near campus is real, but so is the responsibility that stays with you.
Paper, approval, and a deposit
Read your lease first. Many leases require landlord consent to sublet or ban it outright; subletting without permission can put your own lease at risk. Get approval in writing.
If you do sublet, use a written sublease that names the rent, dates, and condition of the unit, collect a deposit from the subtenant, and document the unit’s condition with photos at handoff and return. If you are taking on a sublease, ask to see the master lease and confirm the landlord has approved you.
This is general information, not legal advice. Lease terms and local rules vary. When in doubt, ask your landlord and read your lease before you sign or accept a sublease.
Common questions, answered
Often, but only with landlord approval. Many leases near campus require written consent to sublet, and some prohibit it. Subletting without permission can jeopardize your own lease, so read your lease and get approval in writing first. Subleasing is most common over the summer and during study-abroad terms.
Under most leases, yes. A sublease lets someone else occupy your unit, but you typically remain responsible to your landlord for the rent and any damage. If the subtenant does not pay, the landlord looks to you. Collect a deposit and use a written sublease to reduce your risk.
Ask to see the master lease and confirm the landlord has approved you in writing. Verify the rent, dates, and the unit’s condition, and document it with photos at move-in. Taking on a sublease without landlord approval can leave you without standing if something goes wrong.
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