6 Ways To Prepare Your Apartment For A Subtenant

By Danni White on September 20, 2016

During the summer when you are not in school, you may find yourself away from your campus or off-campus apartment. If you’re one of the many people who take extended summer vacations or go away to family back home for an entire month during the winter, subletting your living space to someone else is a good route to take to give another person the comforts of your living quarters and to save a little extra money along the way.

Like anything else in life, subletting has it rewards, but it does come with some risks.

Houzz contributor Laura Gaskill writes in Forbes.com, “Before you leap in, it’s important to get a full picture of the risks you face and what (if anything) you can do to minimize them.”

Image via Pexels.com

Here are a few things you should keep in mind before you let someone else live in your place:

1. First, always check to make sure it is legal. Very few students actually own their living quarters. So if you are renting, it is of utmost importance that you check with the landlord to make sure it is legal for you to do this. If you sublet your property with permission, you could get into a world of legal headaches and risk getting evicted.

When you check, it may be a good idea to get their permission in writing so you can avoid any legal problems in the future. Beyond that, check with your local housing authority as some rules may apply to subleasing that your landlord may not be fully aware of. Cities and states have a variety of policies. You won’t want to get into any trouble just because you didn’t know.

2. Next, understand that subletting gone bad brings a new set of problems. When you open up your living space to other people, even if it’s only for a few days or weeks, you also open up the doors for your furniture to be damaged and valuables to be stolen. While you can’t eliminate every single thing, you can eliminate these problems for yourself. Of course, you don’t want to be paranoid but you do want to protect yourself and keep your stuff safe.

Take some time to go through your apartment and create an inventory of all the things you own that mean something to you. Take photos of each room in your apartment “before” you lease. If you have renter’s insurance or another type of insurance and created a list like this, you can use that list, but make sure it is updated. Make sure your warranties are updated on things such as televisions, washers, dryers, and refrigerators so if things do get broken, you will have a way to get them fixed without breaking the bank. If you can take some things with you like high-end clothing, cameras, laptops, and the like, then by all means, do so.

3. Third, vet your tenants. All people do this. Nobody just gets hired off the street. We don’t just pick presidents to lead our nation in one day. A short, but necessary, process of finding out more about your potential tenant will help you to make a good decision about whether you will let them stay or if you’ll pass them over. If you don’t have someone in mind right off the bat, you can start by asking your friends and even family members what their housing needs are during the dates you are going to be gone.

Use social media to find other people you may know. You can also post listings on Uloop.comSublet.com, Trulia, or AirBNB. (I would suggest Craigslist but it appears to have its own issues.) Beyond that, tap into resources in your community to find the right person. The more you know about the person, the more likely you are to feel comfortable and like your living space and belongings are in good hands. There’s nothing like peace of mind while you’re traveling.

4. Fourth, once you’ve found the right person, ask the right questions. This is part of the vetting or screening process. While you’ve probably expressed your expectations or requirements, make sure you understand theirs to ensure the match is perfect. Then like any responsible renter, sign an agreement (you could get one from your landlord or if you’re besties with a lawyer, let him or her draw one up for you).

Do a background check (and be prepared to pay for it yourself). Obtain at least two references, and if you think it’s necessary, do a credit check. Smart Move allows you to request both background and credit checks within a few minutes. Then settle on a rate. Don’t ask for more than what you’re paying. However, if you can, ask for the same amount in competitive markets or a little less if you prefer.

Get the tenant to pay a security deposit (which helps pay for any damages). If you’ll be subletting to the same person for more than a month, you may consider asking them to pay a down payment before they move in. You don’t want to be stuck with a person who talks well, but can’t support what they say. Be aware that your name is ultimately on the lease and the landlord will be after you if anything goes awry.

5. Then, get your place ready to receive the person you’ve agreed on to move in. Make sure your place is clean — dishes put away, floors and windows are clean, rooms are especially presentable. Set aside clean spare bed linen and bath towels for your guests. If you have special kitchenware that you don’t want touched or otherwise damaged, be sure to pack them away until you return.

pexels.com

Be aware, however, that you do need to leave some things for your tenant to use in your absence, as that’s part of subletting a furnished living space. Let your tenant know politely what they can and cannot use in your house.

6. Finally, if you have special quirks that make your living space work, be sure to let your tenant know. Leave a list in a notebook or a magnet on the refrigerator or a yellow sticky note on the living room centerpiece that tells them how to connect to the Wi-Fi, what the password is to HBO, and maybe recommendations on restaurants and movie theaters if they are new to the area.

While there is a lot of work involved, subletting your place can be very beneficial in the long run. Simply going through the process to get the right and responsible individual is over half the headache. Good luck!

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