Is your heart set on backpacking around Europe for the summer? Did you land the internship you've been dreaming of? Or, are you graduating a semester early? With exciting plans like these, the last thing you want to think about is paying rent for an apartment you're no longer using. While many leases are based on a 12-month agreement, circumstances may complicate your ability to remain tied to your Tallahassee apartment for the full year. Whatever the reason for your early departure, subleasing your apartment near FSU may be a great option for you!
Subleasing is the process of renting out the apartment in which you are currently leasing. If you follow the right steps and your lease permits subleasing, you should be able to have the applicant screened by the leasing office and have them assume all responsibility for the remainder of your lease term. There are a few things you should consider when it comes to subleasing your apartment:
5 Steps You Should Take Before Subleasing Your FSU Apartment
- Check Your Lease: Before you decide to sublease your apartment near FSU, you should first take a look at your lease. Some communities specifically prohibit subleasing, while others welcome subleasing and will help you with the screening process. Any regulations will be outlined in the lease. If your lease prohibits subleasing, don't lose hope! Follow-up with your property manager to double-check the policy and to ask if there are any possible alternatives. If the community is able to make an exception or offer an alternative, be sure to ask for a written addendum to your lease, allowing you to sublet the apartment.
- Finding a Subtenant: Once you've received approval from your community's property manager, you will need to find a reliable, trustworthy subtenant. You can advertise via word-of-mouth through friends, the community, your workplace, and around campus. Alternatively, you can use online platforms to spread the word, such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Uloop through Florida State University, and even Reddit. If you're having trouble finding a subtenant, consider offering an incentive such as paying half of the first month's rent. Your community may also have a list of individuals interested in subleasing, so be sure to check with them first.
- Don't forget about your roommates! If you share an apartment with other roommates, it is very important that you find a potential subtenant who is a good match for your roommates. For example, if you live in an all-female apartment it would not be appropriate to find a male subtenant unless all parties are comfortable. As a second example, if you do not currently have a pet living in the apartment, you'll need to make sure all roommates are ok with having an animal move in before finding a subtenant who owns a pet.
- Screen Potential Tenants: You may feel pressure to quickly find a tenant, but it's important that you allow yourself enough time to properly screen potential tenants. The best way to screen a potential subleaser is to go through your leasing office and pay the application fee. The office already has a reliable process in place and requires that all future residents are approved by their system. The person you select to sublease your apartment will also need a guarantor or security deposit, so make sure you identify what is required and communicate those requirements as you're looking for a potential subtenant.
- Get It in Writing: Once you feel confident in a potential subtenant, you should plan a meeting at the leasing office so that you can sign over your lease agreement. This will make it clear to the subleasing party how much rent they are expected to pay each month, how utility bills will be handled moving forward, if a security deposit is required, how many people are allowed to live there, and other such provisions. As long as you go through the leasing office, you can move out of your apartment with peace of mind knowing that you have been released from the lease and that the new renter will be fully responsible moving forward.