Sublet Apartments

Out of all the rental terms out there, “sublets” and “subleases” aren’t clearly defined for a lot of people. You may have considered subletting your accommodation, or maybe you’ve even paid rent on a sublet room or apartment before. But what is it exactly? And are subleases and sublets the right choice for you?

What is a Sublet?

Let’s start with the basics. A sublet, or sublease, is a contract under which a tenant rents out their apartment or room to someone else while the tenant's name remains on the lease. The replacement is known as a subtenant. As a subtenant, you’ll generally have the same rights as the original tenant, and you’ll have to abide by the same rules—based on arrangements that the landlord has made with the original renter. Contracts for sublets or subleases can last for any length of time. You can either sublet the space entirely or just a portion of it. “Sublet” is also used as a broad term for temporary housing. Sublets are often available for short periods and are great for living in a city without committing to a long lease.

What do Sublets Look Like?

Sublets and subleases are common in both residential and commercial properties—from a small apartment to a high-rise hotel. For instance, sublets can be an entire apartment, a room in an apartment, a co-living space room, an extended-stay hotel room, or even a shared room.

Furnished Apartment Sublets

Furnished apartments are a great sublet option for those who want their own space but are willing to share areas like a kitchen or bathroom. Beyond having furnishings already in the unit, a furnished apartment can vary in other options and amenities. Some are fully serviced apartments with housecleaning, and you'll find all of them equipped with a bed, kitchen, bathroom, furniture, and appliances.

Co-living Space Room Sublets

Subletting a room in a co-living space is an excellent way to save money and live in a building with other like-minded individuals. If you haven't heard of it, co-living is a form of housing where residents share living space and resources. Typically, everyone lives in a singular building and share a communal kitchen, living and working areas, bathrooms, and sometimes bedrooms (if you're looking for the most economical type of sublet). It’s a new take on an ancient idea, propelled by people who value openness, collaboration, the sharing economy—and want to minimize monthly living costs.

Extended Stay Hotel Room Sublets

Did you know that you can sublease a hotel room on a month-to-month basis? These are called extended-stay hotel rooms. An extended-stay hotel offers a private furnished room at an establishment that typically has amenities such as a kitchen, WiFi, and usually a cleaning service. There are a variety of different extended-stay accommodation styles that you can sublet, ranging from inexpensive to very luxurious. You’ll find them in a variety of locations—from major metropolitan cities to more remote places.

What is the Purpose of a Sublet?

The most common lease term for housing is one year. But what happens when you need to move out before the lease ends—or you don't want to stay that long in the first place? Maybe you need to move to a new city for a job, an internship, or just for travel. Do you have to pay rent for an entire year to live there? You could break the lease; however, it can be costly. This is when sublets come in extremely handy. Sublets allow you to stay in furnished apartment rooms, hotel rooms, or rooms in co-living spaces on a monthly—or sometimes weekly—basis. They’re a great way to try out a new location or lock in accommodations without signing a long lease.

6 Benefits of Renting Sublets and Subleases

Sublets offer much more flexibility than traditional leases. Here are the top six benefits of sublets and subleases.

1. Short-Term Lease

Finding an apartment with a lease agreement that’s less than a year is challenging. With subleasing, you can sign an agreement for the length of stay that you want—and if you use a site like Anyplace, you’ll even be able to find thousands of sublets with monthly contracts. Short-term leases don’t restrict you and give you the flexibility to keep moving and avoid getting stuck with a long lease in one place.

2. Save Money on Move-In Costs

The costs that come with renting can be overwhelming. Usually, landlords require first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit. And then you'll need to buy furniture, appliances, and decorations. With subleases, there’s a lot more flexibility. The most you’ll typically pay is the first month of rent plus a security deposit. And the best part? Sublets are almost always fully furnished with utilities set up and WiFi included.

3. Save Money on Rent

If you sublet a room in an apartment, hotel, or co-living space, you might find rates lower than on Craigslist or other housing websites. Some property owners or current tenants want to cover rent quickly and are willing to accept a lower amount.

4. Discover the Neighborhood Before Deciding

Subletting gives you the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighborhood and neighbors before signing a long-term lease. You’ll have time to learn your way around and understand the pros and cons of the area you’ve chosen. If you like the area, you can continue subletting (if available) or confidently sign a longer-term lease with the landlord.

5. You Can Have Lower Credit

If your credit history has made renting difficult, subletting may be the best option. Landlords usually run credit checks for standard leases, but many people who sublet are less strict. If subletting is approved by the landlord (which is likely), your credit may not be a barrier.

6. Some Sublets Have More Flexible Arrangements Than Others

While some sublets are only available for a short time, others allow additional freedom and let you choose to live in an apartment room, hotel room, or co-living space as long as you want. You can sublet a room for one month or more and then extend as the end date approaches. This is the best-case scenario—the sublet is on your terms.

Who Should Use a Sublet?

Sublets are perfect for those who travel instead of maintaining a permanent home. This includes digital nomads, travel nurses or medical professionals, people who relocate frequently due to work, people in between accommodations, or those who simply want to try a new neighborhood without too much commitment. Constantly moving and trying to find temporary housing can be difficult—especially if you have to negotiate the rental agreement, sign leases, and buy furniture. With subleases, you’re guaranteed a hassle-free experience when staying in a new location.

Why Anyplace is Easier and Better than Sublet Websites like Craigslist

When it comes to finding a sublet near you, there are many important factors to consider—budget, the type of room, included amenities, move-in date, stay duration, and the lease terms. Many people use Craigslist to search for sublets, but it’s not simple and can be extremely time-consuming. Let’s take a quick look.

Finding a Sublet Near You (or Anywhere) on Craigslist is Hard… Really Hard

When you want to find a sublet near you on Craigslist, it’s quite the journey from start to finish. First, you’ll scroll endlessly through sublet options and open tons of tabs for the ones that might fit your needs. Next, you need to craft a compelling email—hoping it stands out among potentially hundreds of others—and ideally get a response from the person renting the room. Then, you’ll most likely have to interview with current tenants and potential roommates. Sometimes this is via video; other times you’ll travel to an in-person meeting. And maybe—after all that—you’ll be chosen for the sublet. This process on Craigslist is laborious, tedious, time-consuming, and can be downright disappointing when you don’t get the place you wanted. On top of that, you don’t necessarily get to choose the move-in date—it’s determined by the current tenant’s schedule. You’re browsing listings that work for them, not you. That’s inconvenient if you’d like to move in immediately. We believe there should be a much easier way, which is why we created Anyplace. We simplify the process people are used to on Craigslist and make the whole thing more enjoyable. Here are a few benefits to finding sublets on Anyplace vs. other room rental websites.

Benefits to Sublets on Anyplace

Anyplace provides the best of both worlds for sublets—a range of affordable units in cities around the world, all available on month-to-month contracts. As for housing options, you’ll find a variety of apartments, co-living spaces, and extended hotels. Every sublet on our website is fully furnished with utilities and WiFi already set up, allowing you to enjoy a hassle-free experience where all you need to do is arrive. Long-term subleases on Anyplace are optional, allowing you the freedom to live month to month in any area of any city. We believe in a rental experience that’s simple, easy to manage, and fits your schedule and needs. Choose the city, the dates you need, and the specific room type right on the website or app, and book with a click.

Zero hassle

Choose a sublet you want to live in on the website, and then book. No emails, roommate interviews, or complications.

No landlord

No landlord, no problem. You just need to move into your sublet—we handle the rest for you.

All-inclusive

All utilities and WiFi are included in the sublet and will be set up for you and ready to go.

No long-leases

Forget about signing a long lease. Our sublets are available month-to-month. Stay as long or little as you’d like—down to the day.

Move-in today—or any day

Search for a sublet on Anyplace that matches your schedule. Select the city you want and type in the exact dates you’d like to sublet a room.

Move out or extend your stay

Manage your stay online. If you decide you’d like to extend, you can do it with a click.

Where are Sublets Near Me?

When comparing sublets near you, consider the location, convenience, price point, and amenities that you need. All of the sublets on Anyplace are easy to move into, offer everything you need for day-to-day living, and some even provide services like housekeeping. You can find a variety of room sizes, from private with a private bathroom to shared rooms with communal kitchens and lounges. Our sublets are available in some of the world's greatest cities like San Francisco, New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens), Los Angeles, Austin, Sacramento, Guadalajara, Cancun, Tampa, Atlanta, and many more. It’s easy to go online and find a sublet near you in most major cities around the globe. Whether traveling alone or with family and friends—for business or pleasure—you can live in style and still enjoy the conveniences of home. Just select the city where you’re looking to sublet and you’ll find plenty of options to choose from.