Life doesn’t play by the rules of your lease. A new job can spring up in the middle of a month or a family issue can arrive without warning, causing you to need to move. In such a case, you might find yourself needing to leave your current place with months still on your lease.
You never want to break your lease. While your landlord will have a duty to find a new tenant, you will be on the hook for rent owed until he does. So, what do you do if you need to move?
First, you should see if you landlord is willing to void your lease. if not, your next best option is to sublet your place. To sublet, follow the following steps:
1. Check your lease – to see if it allows subletting.
2. Advertise – a sign outside your place and an ad on Craigslist should be sufficient. Also, have your friends spread the word.
3. Consider dropping the price – if your place is $800 a month, consider dropping it by $50 or so to make it more attractive to a potential subleasee than the vacant spot right next to it.
4. Contract – always make a contract with the person you’re subletting to so you both know the essential terms of the agreement. Type up the basics, sign the document and both keep a copy.
If your contract does not allow subletting, you might still be able to add the person to your lease. You would need to talk to you landlord about this.