Sometimes life can take you on an unexpected journey, like a temporary work relocation or even an extended vacation for several months. When that happens, you might be thinking about what to do with your apartment. One of the easiest options is exploring the subletting process, which can save you the hassle of finding a new place or paying for the apartment when you’re not even there. Here are a few things to know about subletting your apartment.
Check with your landlord
It’s always highly recommended to get written permission from your lessor to ensure that not only are they okay with the agreement of someone else taking over your lease for the period of time that you’ll be away, but to also make sure that they have all of the information they’ll need. Having this written approval will protect you should anything out of the ordinary happen and the law becomes involved, and it’s also just, in general, a wise idea to maintain a good working relationship with your landlord.
Be clear with your subletter
When interviewing possible subletters for your apartment while you’re away, you need to be clear and upfront about what the expectations are. Communicate the ways to submit payment (whether to you or directly to your building’s management) and how to maintain a quality state of living. You definitely don’t want to come back to find your home trashed or to see that they weren’t a good resident amidst the rest of the community. You want to be able to trust this person with your home and your belongings, so this is easily one of the most important things to know about subletting your apartment.
Be thorough and attentive
Luckily, these days, with our smartphones and social media platforms, we can easily do some quick background research on people, which can help you in this instance while searching for a suitable subletter. If you discover that your personal network has no one that can satisfy your needs as a subletter, you may have to resort to public sites. You will probably have to do some additional screening here, since going through the internet can often bring about uncertainty. When you do find one, have a friend trade information with your subletter in the event that person has any questions or issues with the apartment while you’re away.
Renting doesn’t mean you’re locked into your apartment and if you have an extended leave coming up, you may not be stuck with the costs of maintaining your place. Be thorough and find a great subletter to share the load.