What does it mean to sublet an apartment?

A lot of (middle class) college students have a summer internship or move back with mom and dad for the summer but don't want to lose their apartment near their or pay for nothing so they find someone to live there for a couple months are pay them the rent. Let is an old fashioned or legalistic term for rent, so they are sub-renting, as in the renter is themself renting to another person.

Often the landlord doesn't know and doesn't need to know as long as you sublet to a responsible person that doesn't trash the place. If they don't pay you, you're probably screwed as well. Perhaps technically in some states you can take them to court - even spoken contracts are still legal contracts, but good luck proving that.

/r/AskAnAmerican Thread