Example
Ana’s lease runs to December 31, 2026 at $1,800 a month, and she will be away for a job from June 1 to August 31. With her landlord’s written consent, she sublets to Ben for those three months at $1,800 a month. Ben pays Ana and Ana keeps paying the landlord. If Ben leaves owing July’s rent, the landlord can still collect it from Ana, and Ana has to pursue Ben herself. When Ana returns in September, the sublease is over and nothing about her own lease has changed.
In a lease it looks like…
Tenant shall not sublet all or any part of the premises without Landlord’s prior written consent, which Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold. Any subtenant must apply and be approved by Landlord before moving in.
By state
Whether a lease can forbid subletting depends on where the unit is. New York, for example, lets tenants in buildings with four or more units ask to sublet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse; other states let the lease ban it outright.
Plain English, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.