sublease

A sublease is an agreement in which a tenant, the original renter of a property, rents out all or part of that space to another person. That new person is called a sublessee. In simple terms, it is a rental agreement made under an existing lease.

The key point is that the original tenant usually remains responsible for the main lease with the landlord. If the sublessee does not pay rent or causes damage, the original tenant may still be responsible. Because of that, many leases require the landlord's approval before this kind of arrangement can happen. Landlords often want to check the new renter first and make sure the person seems reliable.

This is not limited to apartments. It can also apply to office space, parking spaces, or storage units. For example: "The startup company subleased part of the larger office to lower costs." Or, "He found a sublease for a room in a shared house near campus."

From a legal point of view, this creates a new rental relationship between the original tenant, now acting as the sublessor, and the sublessee. However, the main lease with the original landlord still stays in effect.

So, if you are thinking about this arrangement, either as the original tenant or as the person moving in, read the lease carefully and make sure the rules are clear. Written approval from the landlord is often needed. It can work well for everyone, but only when the terms are clear and everyone follows them.