Subleasing an Atlanta apartment is an excellent way to get out of paying rent in two places if you find yourself having to move. It is not, however, a method that will free you from the responsibility involved in renting. If you sublease and your tenant defaults or causes damage, you will be responsible. Considering this, it is very important to protect yourself and your interests before you let someone move in to your old place and call it home.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to help make certain a sublease arrangement works to your advantage. While there are no guarantees in life, doing these things can help you be sure your bases are covered:
Get permission – In some cases, subleasing your apartment is not an option. Some apartment management companies and landlords do not allow tenants to sublease their apartment. If this turns out to be the case for you, you can get into some trouble subleasing your apartment without your landlord’s knowledge. Make sure your lease allows subleasing and talk to your landlord about it before you have someone new just move in. If your lease prohibits subleasing, your only other option may be to have a lease termination agreement drawn up.
Do a background check – Play the role of “landlord” and fully check out a potential tenant before letting them take over your payments. Have questions to ask ready to go such as those related to rental history and employment. Also, take the time to check credit. You might need to get permission from your potential tenant to do these things, but make disclosure a must. This can help you be certain the person you are subleasing to is responsible and can handle the payments. Taking a person on word alone often isn’t enough and it won’t cover you down the road.
Get a contract signed – It is not out of the question to ask a sublet tenant to sign a sublease contract. If you have any concerns on this front, it can help to hire a lawyer to draw up the contract. The internet is also a great place to find a sublease contract template to get you started. The tenant should be responsible for payments and any damage that might result. It’s also possible you’ll want to collect a deposit to cover your own investment.
Take pictures before the move in date – To properly record the state of the apartment before the official turnover date, it’s smart to take pictures and document the condition of different rooms. Pay attention to the walls, floors and appliances. It can also help to have the sublease tenant do a walk through just like you did with your landlord when you moved in. Make sure you both agree on the list and sign it. Give a copy to the tenant and keep one for your records.
When a lease has months left before it runs out, a sublease agreement can take some of the burden off your shoulders. Remember, however, that sublet apartments might provide a way to pay the bills, but they do not resolve their original tenants from responsibility either.
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