Sublease.

In plain English

A sublease (or sublet) is an arrangement where you, the original tenant, rent your place to another person while your own lease with the landlord is still running. The new person (the subtenant) pays you, and you keep paying the landlord. The catch is that you stay legally on the hook. If the subtenant trashes the place or stops paying, the landlord comes after you, not them. Most leases require the landlord's written permission before you can sublease, so subletting without asking can itself be a lease violation.

01Why it matters

Subletting can cover your rent when you have to leave town for a few months without breaking your lease. But because you stay responsible, a bad subtenant can wreck your deposit and your standing with the landlord.

02The math, step by step

You signed a 12-month lease at $1,200 a month but get a 4-month work assignment in another city. With your landlord's written okay, you sublease to a coworker for $1,200 a month. They pay you, you keep paying the landlord, and your lease stays intact. If your coworker stops paying, you still owe the landlord the full $1,200, because your name is the one on the lease.

Illustrative example. The amounts here are hypothetical, chosen to show how the math works, not real quoted rates or figures.

03What this is NOT