Whether you are studying abroad or spending the summer in another city, you are probably facing the common dilemma of what to do with your apartment while you are away. If you do not want your apartment to sit empty as you continue paying rent each month, you may be in the position to sublet or relet your apartment.
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When starting the subletting or reletting process, we understand that finding someone to fill your lease can be challenging. To help simplify the process, we will be listing our top seven tips to help you sublet your apartment near the University of Georgia.
Subletting vs. Reletting
Subletting and reletting both refer to someone taking over your lease for a certain period of time. However, there are a few main differences between the two choices.
When subletting your apartment, you are still financially and legally obligated to your contract. This means that if the person subletting your apartment were to stop paying rent or cause any damage to the property, you would be the one liable.
On the other hand, reletting your apartment relieves you of any financial obligation to the property when the new tenant moves in. The new resident will sign a new lease with the landlord that is completely separate from the rental agreement you signed. Once they move into the unit, you will be released of your obligation to your signed lease contract. This way, if the reletter were to move out or stop paying rent, the obligation of the contract is on them and you will not be liable.
This is why, at Rambler, we only offer reletting. We’ll refer to subletting in this article to keep it simple, but remember whether you’re looking to find someone to sublet or relet your space, the process of finding a good fit will be very similar – the difference comes down to liability.
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7 Tips to Find a Subletter in Athens, GA
1. Know your apartment’s rules
Before even considering subletting, be sure to check your contract to see if it is even permitted at your apartment. As stated previously, Rambler only allows reletting. Every apartment has a different policy, so be sure to look at your lease to confirm the specific rules around subletting.
If you are still unsure that subletting is allowed after reading through your contract, ask your leasing office. If you are given the go ahead, it is important to note the specific terms of subletting, especially those not noted in your lease.
Be sure to get all terms in writing to avoid the risk of a miscommunication, which could lead to unexpected fees!
2. Speak with your roommates
It is important to discuss your subletting plans with your roommates, especially if they will be living there during that time period.
While you are not required to have your roommates’ approval before subletting, it is best to be mindful that your home is a shared space and to keep everyone in the loop throughout the process of finding a tenant. This way, you will be more likely to avoid any issues or miscommunication.
3. Ask your friends
Before trying to find a random subletter, ask around to see if anyone is looking to sublease.
If your subletter is someone you know or recommended by someone you know, you will not be subject to as much risk as you would be with a complete stranger.
Finding a tenant can be a long and stressful process of meetings and getting references, so taking advantage of your network could save you that time and energy. Ask your friends, peers and group chats – be sure to find people you know well and can trust.
Finding a subletter can be a lot like finding a roommate, so check out our guide to finding a roommate in Athens, GA for more tips.
4. Use social media
If you have no luck after asking around, there are multiple social media forums and platforms that students use to find subletters in their area, including GroupMe, Facebook and Instagram.
There are numerous UGA subletting groups on Facebook, the most popular platform to use. In these groups, people make posts offering subleases and also in search of subleases.
If you join multiple groups and post consistently, you will eventually have inquiries flooding in. After finding a few people as options, message with them to see who could be a potential fit.
Some popular facebook pages for UGA students looking to sublease include:
- UGA/Athens Lease, Subleases, Roommates, Off Campus Housing & Apartments
- UGA Transfer & Current UGA Students Roommate Finder
- University of Georgia (UGA) Housing and Sublease Community
5. Know what you’re looking for
When searching for a subletter, make sure that the person you choose is a good fit. This is especially important if you have roommates.
If you or your roommates have certain qualities or preferences in mind, it is helpful to include those in your social media posts to narrow down your options. For example, if your roommate is allergic to dogs, include in your post that having a dog is not an option.
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Some other things that students often include in their post is age preference (graduate student, undergrad), cleanliness, and sleep habits. It is best to be specific in your search so there is less room for misunderstandings when getting to know potential subletters.
6. Ask for references
When looking at potential subletters for your student apartment, you want to make sure your candidates are trustworthy individuals.
If you find a subletter through an online platform, it’s a good idea to ask them for at least two references to ensure that they will hold up their end of the bargain.
Ideally, you would want one of the references to be a past landlord to be sure the person is reliable as a tenant.
7. Be aware of the risk
As stated before, subletting your apartment does not come without risk. It is important to fully understand that you are liable if the subletter damages the property, doesn’t pay the rent, or disrespects property rules.
To minimize this risk, you may want to ask permission to run a background check. Many apartment complexes will require you to run a background check or pay for the costs associated with running one before approving your sublease, so be sure to check your apartment’s policy.
One benefit of reletting is that, after you find a reletter to take over your lease, you will no longer be liable for any damages to the space.
We hope that these steps help you in your process of finding a tenant to relet or sublet your apartment. If you have any further questions, please reach out to our leasing team and they will be happy to help you.
