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    Free sublease agreement template

    A sublease agreement is a contract in which a tenant (the sublessor) rents all or part of their unit to a subtenant for some or all of the time left on their own lease, while the original lease with the landlord stays in place. It should name the landlord, the original tenant and the subtenant, identify the master lease, set a term that ends on or before the master lease ends, and state the rent, deposit, utilities and whether the landlord has consented. Fill in the form below to get a ready-to-sign sublease with an optional landlord consent section, or download the blank version to complete by hand.

    Last reviewed: · by MakeLease Editorial Team

    Sublease Agreement generator

    The parties

    The tenant named on the master lease who is subletting.

    The person moving in under this sublease.

    The property

    What is being sublet?

    The master lease

    The lease between the landlord and the original tenant.

    The sublease must end on or before this date.

    Sublease term

    Rent and deposit

    $
    Subtenant pays rent to
    $

    Leave blank if none. This is separate from any deposit the original tenant paid the landlord.

    Utilities and furnishings

    Say who pays each utility, or what share, and how it is settled.

    One item per line. Leave blank if the unit is unfurnished.

    Landlord consent

    Ticked: the agreement prints a Landlord Consent section with a signature line, and the sublease takes effect only once the landlord signs it. Check the subletting clause in the master lease.

    Move-out and other terms

    Blank PDF

    Free, no account needed. Showing example details. Replace them with yours.

    Sublease Agreement

    This Sublease Agreement (the “Sublease”) is made between Jordan Ellis (“Sublessor”), the tenant under the Master Lease described below, and Riley Chen (“Subtenant”).

    Sublessor (original tenant)::Jordan Ellis
    Subtenant::Riley Chen
    Landlord::Morgan Rivera
    Property::123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield

    1. The Master Lease

    Sublessor rents the property at 123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield (the “Property”) from Morgan Rivera (“Landlord”) under a lease dated March 1, 2026 that ends on February 28, 2027 (the “Master Lease”). A copy of the Master Lease is attached to this Sublease, and Subtenant confirms receiving and reading it.

    2. Premises

    Sublessor sublets to Subtenant the entire Property (the “Premises”).

    3. Term

    The Sublease begins on December 1, 2026 and ends on February 28, 2027. The Sublease cannot last longer than the Master Lease. If the Master Lease ends early for any reason, this Sublease ends on the same date, and Subtenant will move out by then.

    4. Rent

    Subtenant will pay rent of $1,450 per month, due on the 1st day of each month, paid to Sublessor. Payment method: Bank transfer to Sublessor's account. Rent for a partial first or last month is prorated by the day.

    5. Security deposit

    Subtenant will pay Sublessor a security deposit of $1,450 on or before the start date. Sublessor will return the deposit after Subtenant moves out, less lawful deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, with a written list of any deductions, within the time and in the manner applicable law requires. This deposit is separate from any deposit Sublessor paid Landlord under the Master Lease.

    6. Utilities

    • Electricity, gas and internet: Subtenant sets up or pays these in full during the sublease term.
    • Water and trash: included in rent.

    7. Furnishings and condition

    The following furnishings and items are included for Subtenant's use and stay with the Premises:

    • Queen bed and mattress
    • Sofa and coffee table
    • Desk and chair
    • Kitchen dishes, cookware and microwave

    Sublessor and Subtenant will walk through the Premises at move-in and record their condition, including any furnishings, in writing or with dated photos. Each keeps a copy.

    8. Subtenant follows the Master Lease

    Subtenant will follow every term of the Master Lease that applies to occupants of the Premises, including rules on use, noise, guests, pets, smoking, maintenance and access, except that rent, the security deposit and utilities are as stated in this Sublease. Subtenant will not do anything, or allow anything, that would breach the Master Lease. Subtenant will not sublet any part of the Premises or assign this Sublease. If this Sublease and the Master Lease conflict, the Master Lease controls as between Sublessor and Landlord.

    9. Sublessor stays responsible to Landlord

    This Sublease does not release Sublessor from the Master Lease. Sublessor remains responsible to Landlord for all obligations under the Master Lease, including paying rent, for the full term. Sublessor will keep the Master Lease in effect for the Sublease term and will pass on to Subtenant promptly any notice from Landlord that affects the Premises. Subtenant is responsible to Sublessor for any loss Sublessor suffers because Subtenant breaks this Sublease or the Master Lease.

    10. Landlord consent

    The Master Lease requires Landlord's written consent to sublet. This Sublease takes effect only when Landlord signs the Landlord Consent below. Subtenant will not move in before then.

    11. Move-out

    Sublessor has given Subtenant the following keys and access devices: 2 unit keys, 1 building fob, 1 mailbox key. By the end of the Sublease, Subtenant will remove all personal belongings, leave the Premises and any furnishings clean and in the same condition as at move-in except for normal wear and tear, and return every key and access device to Sublessor.

    12. Additional terms

    1. Subtenant will not keep any pets at the Property.

    13. Entire agreement

    This Sublease, together with the attached Master Lease, is the entire agreement between Sublessor and Subtenant. Any change must be in writing and signed by both. If any part of this Sublease is found invalid, the rest stays in effect.

    14. Signatures

    By signing below, Sublessor and Subtenant agree to this Sublease. Each should keep a signed copy, with the Master Lease attached.

    Sublessor signature (Jordan Ellis)
    Date
    Subtenant signature (Riley Chen)
    Date

    Landlord Consent

    I, Morgan Rivera, the Landlord under the Master Lease, consent to this Sublease between Jordan Ellis and Riley Chen for the term stated above. This consent does not change the Master Lease, does not release Sublessor from any obligation under it, and does not make Subtenant a tenant of Landlord. It applies to this Sublease only and is not consent to any other sublease or assignment.

    Landlord signature (Morgan Rivera)
    Date

    Made free at make.lease/forms/sublease-agreement

    What to include in a sublease agreement

    • All three parties. The original tenant (sublessor), the subtenant and the landlord or property manager, so it is clear who owes what to whom.
    • The master lease. Its date and end date, with a copy attached. The subtenant agrees to follow it, so they need to see it.
    • What is sublet. The entire unit, or a specific room plus the shared areas (kitchen, bathroom, living room) the subtenant may use.
    • The sublease term. A start and end date. The end date must fall on or before the master lease end date; the form warns you if it doesn't.
    • Rent and how it is paid. The monthly amount, the due day, whether it goes to the original tenant or straight to the landlord, and the payment method.
    • The security deposit. The amount the subtenant pays the original tenant, kept separate from the original tenant's own deposit with the landlord.
    • Utilities and furnishings. Who pays each utility or what share, and a list of the furniture and items that come with the space.
    • Responsibility to the landlord. A clause saying the original tenant stays responsible under the master lease, and the subtenant must not do anything that would breach it.
    • Landlord consent, if the lease requires it. A separate consent section the landlord signs.
    • Move-out terms and signatures. Keys returned, condition at move-out, and dated signatures from the original tenant and the subtenant.

    Do you need the landlord's permission to sublet?

    Start with the master lease. Look for a clause on assignment and subletting. Many leases ban subletting outright, allow it only with the landlord's prior written consent, or set conditions such as a screening application or a fee. If the lease requires consent, get it in writing before the subtenant moves in. Subletting in breach of the lease can give the landlord grounds to end the tenancy. Tick "Landlord's written consent is required" in the form and the agreement adds a Landlord Consent section with a signature line, and says the sublease takes effect only when the landlord signs it.

    If the lease says nothing about subletting, the answer depends on your state and sometimes your city. Some places have statutes on subletting; check your state's landlord-tenant law or ask the landlord before you assume you can sublet.

    Example: New York's right to sublet

    New York has one of the clearest statutes. Under New York Real Property Law § 226-b:

    • A tenant with an existing lease in a building with four or more residential units may sublet with the landlord's written consent given in advance, and that consent "shall not be unreasonably withheld" (§ 226-b(2)(a)).
    • The tenant asks by certified mail, return receipt requested, and includes the sublease term, the subtenant's name and addresses, the reason for subletting, the tenant's address during the sublease, any co-tenant's or guarantor's written consent, and a copy of the proposed sublease (§ 226-b(2)(b)).
    • The landlord may ask for more information within 10 days and must answer within 30 days. If the landlord does not respond, consent is treated as given (§ 226-b(2)(c)).
    • If the landlord consents, the original tenant still remains liable for the tenant's obligations under the lease (§ 226-b(2)(c)).
    • A lease clause that waives these rights is void (§ 226-b(6)), but the section does not apply to public housing, units with statutory admission criteria or cooperative proprietary leases, and for rent-stabilized apartments the rights are subject to the rent stabilization rules (§ 226-b(3)–(4)). A sublet that doesn't follow the section is a substantial breach of the lease (§ 226-b(5)).

    New York is shown here as an example only; it is not a summary of every state. If you are subletting a rent-regulated or subsidized unit, or the landlord refuses consent and you plan to sublet anyway, get local legal advice first.

    Sublease vs. assignment

    People use "sublet" for any arrangement where someone else takes over a tenant's place, but leases and courts often treat a sublease and an assignment differently. Check which one your lease clause covers; many cover both.

    SubleaseAssignment
    What transfersPart of the tenant's rights: a shorter period, or only part of the unitThe tenant's whole remaining interest in the lease
    Who the new occupant deals withThe original tenant, who acts as their landlordThe landlord, directly
    Original tenantUsually expects the space back at the end; stays responsible under the leaseLeaves for good; may stay liable unless the landlord releases them in writing
    Typical useSummer sublet, semester abroad, renting out a spare roomTenant moving away permanently, with a replacement taking over the lease

    If you are the landlord and want the new person on the lease directly, a new lease (or a lease assignment with a written release of the old tenant) is usually cleaner than a sublease. For people who share a unit and are all on the lease, use a roommate agreement instead: it splits rent and chores between co-tenants rather than creating a tenant-and-subtenant relationship.

    Who is responsible to the landlord?

    In a sublease, the original tenant generally stays responsible under the master lease. The subtenant has an agreement with the original tenant, usually not with the landlord. So if the subtenant pays late, damages the unit or breaks a building rule, the landlord will normally look to the original tenant, who then has to recover the loss from the subtenant under the sublease.

    This form is written around that structure:

    • The subtenant agrees to follow every term of the master lease that applies to occupants.
    • The original tenant stays responsible to the landlord for the full term and passes on any landlord notices.
    • The subtenant is responsible to the original tenant for losses caused by breaking the sublease or the lease.
    • The landlord's consent, if signed, does not release the original tenant or make the subtenant a tenant of the landlord.

    If you are the original tenant, screen the subtenant as a landlord would, collect a deposit, and document the unit's condition at move-in. The move-in/move-out checklist works for this. The subtenant's deposit you collect may be subject to your state's security deposit rules; see the security deposit laws by state.

    Worked example: a three-month winter sublet

    Jordan rents 123 Maple Street, Unit 4 from Morgan under a lease that runs from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, at $1,450 a month. The lease requires the landlord's written consent to sublet. Jordan takes a work assignment out of town and sublets the whole unit, furnished, to Riley from December 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.

    • Term: the sublease ends February 28, 2027, the same day as the master lease. A March 31 end date would trigger the form's warning, because Jordan has nothing to sublet after February.
    • Rent: Riley pays Jordan $1,450 on the 1st of each month, and Jordan keeps paying Morgan as the lease requires.
    • Deposit: Riley pays Jordan a $1,450 deposit. Jordan's own deposit stays with Morgan untouched.
    • Consent: Morgan signs the Landlord Consent section before Riley moves in.

    Partial month. If Riley instead moved in on December 10, the first month is prorated by the day: $1,450 × 22 ÷ 31 days = $1,029.03 for December.

    If something goes wrong. Say Riley doesn't pay February's rent. Jordan still owes Morgan $1,450 for February under the master lease. Jordan pays it, then looks to Riley under the sublease, for example by applying the deposit to the unpaid rent (with a written list of deductions, as the sublease and state deposit rules require) or by pursuing Riley for the balance.

    Signing tips

    • Get landlord consent first. If the lease requires it, have the landlord sign the consent section (or a separate written consent) before the subtenant moves in or pays anything beyond a deposit.
    • Attach the master lease. The subtenant agrees to follow it, so attach a full copy and have them initial each page or the last page.
    • Everyone signs the same version. The original tenant and the subtenant sign and date the agreement; every co-tenant on the master lease should also agree in writing if the lease or local law requires it.
    • Do the walk-through together. Record the condition of the space and each furnishing on move-in day, with dated photos, and attach the record.
    • Keep complete copies. Each party keeps the signed sublease, the master lease, the landlord's consent and receipts for the deposit and every rent payment.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a sublease agreement?

    It is a contract in which a tenant (the sublessor) rents all or part of their unit to someone else (the subtenant) for part of the remaining lease term. The original lease with the landlord stays in place, and the subtenant agrees to follow it.

    Do I need my landlord's permission to sublet?

    Check your lease first. Many leases require the landlord's written consent before you sublet, and subletting without it can be a breach of the lease. Some states and cities also have their own rules. For example, New York Real Property Law section 226-b gives many tenants in buildings with four or more units a right to sublet with the landlord's consent, which the landlord cannot unreasonably withhold.

    Is the original tenant still responsible after subletting?

    Generally yes. In a sublease the original tenant stays bound by the lease with the landlord, so if the subtenant stops paying or damages the unit, the landlord can usually still look to the original tenant. The sublease lets the original tenant recover those losses from the subtenant.

    What is the difference between a sublease and an assignment?

    In a sublease the original tenant keeps part of their interest, usually by subletting for less than the remaining term or only part of the unit, and stays in the middle between landlord and subtenant. In an assignment the tenant transfers the whole remaining lease to the new person. Whether the original tenant is released depends on the lease, any written release from the landlord and state law.

    Can a sublease last longer than the original lease?

    It shouldn't. A tenant generally can't sublet for longer than their own lease runs, so end the sublease on or before the date the master lease ends. The form warns you if the dates overlap and states that the sublease ends if the master lease ends early.

    Who signs a sublease agreement?

    The original tenant and the subtenant sign the sublease. If the lease requires landlord consent, the landlord signs the consent section too. The form prints that section with its own signature line when you tick the consent box.

    Sources

    Sources last checked 2026-10-27.

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