Subletting Your Apartment
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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Q: Who is responsible for finding someone to sublet my apartment?
A: YOU! You are responsible for the conditions of the lease you signed until your lease is finished. If you wish to sublet, you need to understand that while we will help you, we will neither find a sub-tenant for you nor will we let you out of your lease in the event that you cannot find one. People who have followed the suggestions outlined in this Q&A packet have in almost every case been able to find a sub-tenant. As long as you are open to negotiation, willing to do the work necessary to advertise your apartment, and able to find time to show your (clean!) apartment to a prospective sub-tenant, you will sublet your apartment.
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Q: How do I find a sub-tenant?
A: During the summer months there are many people looking for housing. Some are moving out of the dorms, coming into town for summer school, home for the summer but don’t want to live at home, back from abroad and getting settled for next year, or in from another UW campus. Often your best source for finding a sub-tenant is through friends. Short of a referral, you need to advertise.
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Q: Where should I advertise?
A: The Daily Cardinal and the Badger Herald have housing issues out in early April with special rates for student sublet ads. We have found that putting up attractive ads in the dorms and at the Union can generate more potential sub-tenants.
The most useful and least expensive resource available to you is the Campus Information and Visitors Center at 716 Langdon Street (the Old Red Gym). There you can have your apartment listed on the Internet for a small fee. Their web site is: <www.housing.civc.wisc.edu> and their phone number is 263-2400. Craigslist is also a very popular advertising source.
Remember to market your place as a fun summer apartment, close to James Madison Park, the Farmer’s Market, State Street, etc. If you have a porch, be sure to mention it! Keep in mind that cleanliness is a big selling point.
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Q: When should I start?
A: Yesterday! Actually, right after spring break is the best time. Don’t wait until finals week; you’ll be too busy. The sublet season extends through June, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find someone right away. Like everything else in life, persistence pays off.
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Q: What should I charge for rent?
A: Laws of supply and demand dictate price in the free market of subletting. You might want to try a price that is 1/2 to 2/3 of your present rent, but be willing to negotiate. Your apartment is in a good location, and if you’re keeping it neat and clean, chances are you’ll get a higher price.
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Q: Who is rent paid to?
A: We require that rent be paid to the landlord, as specified in the original lease, at 211 W. Gilman Street, Madison WI 53703, at the times specified in the original lease. If in negotiations, other amounts or items are established, we require that the original tenants (YOU) pay the full rent by the time specified in the original lease.
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Q: What about my security deposit?
A: It is the policy of the landlord to keep a security deposit equal to one month’s rent. The law does not permit us to keep more than that amount. Since you will not want to jeopardize your deposit, you should negotiate to collect some deposit from your sub-tenant, typically $200-$300 or more. Any deduction made from your deposit will be itemized and will be sent to you with your deposit refund within 21 days of the last day of the lease. You can review any deposit deductions with your sub-tenant and return the appropriate amount of their deposit back to them. Please don’t forget that only one security deposit refund check will be written for each apartment. The security deposit will be refunded according to the terms specified in the Security Deposit Addendum to your lease.
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Q: What if my roommates don’t approve of my sublettor?
A: We cannot approve a sublet unless we obtain the consent of all roommates in the apartment. If they refuse your choice, they may wish to advertise for a more acceptable person or agree to some adjustment in rent. These arrangements are completely up to you.
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Q: What if I don’t find a sublettor?
A: If you don’t find a suitable sub-tenant, YOU are responsible for all rent due in accordance with you lease agreement.
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Q: What if my sublettor has a pet?
A: Our Pet Policy applies to original residents and sub-tenants alike. A pet cannot enter your apartment without first obtaining an authorized Pet Agreement which includes the signatures of all roommates and the approval of the Landlord.
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Q: What sort of paperwork needs to be done?
A: There are two forms which need to be filled out and returned to our office. First, your sub-tenant must fill out our application form (it’s the same as the one you filled out before you signed your lease) which must be approved by our office. Second, we require our sublet agreement to be filled out completely, detailing the terms of your arrangement and signed by you and your roommates. We will review the original lease with your sub-tenant, since he/she is bound by all the terms and conditions of your lease.
We will NOT take your name off of the lease. You are ultimately responsible for all rental payments. If your sub-tenant defaults, you must pay the rent due. This is why we stress that you fill out all forms, take a deposit and let us check references. Unless you take precautions, your security deposit and credit could be at risk. We have designed these Q&A sheets to help protect you from this type of problem.
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Q: When should I bring the forms to the office?
A: YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE OFFICE TO REVIEW ALL THE FORMS. If you have all of them completed, it shouldn’t take more than ten minutes. Your sub-tenant will be required to listen to the lease and addendum tape, which takes about twenty minutes (this is the same tape that you listened to before you signed your lease). Plan your time accordingly.
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Q: How much is the sublet fee?
A: The sublet fee covers our additional costs of advertising, application processing, completion of forms, record keeping, and reviewing the lease and addendum. Contact the office for current charge amount.
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Q: What happens at the end of the lease?
A: A packet of check-out information will be delivered to your apartment about two weeks before your lease ends. This packet includes a cleaning inspection appointment, a checklist of items to be completed for security deposit refund, and information on how to clean the apartment. You may request this packet before you leave, or it will be delivered to your sub-tenant. You still remain responsible for check-out procedures.
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Q: Anything else?
A: KEYS: You are responsible for giving the keys to your sub-tenant. At the end of the lease term, we should have all the keys back in our office, or you will be charged for a lock change.
FURNITURE: If it is necessary for us to move furniture, there is a charge per item. You may wish to include this in your sublet negotiations. Contact the office for current charge amount.
CLEANING: This is one of the stickiest points of subletting. YOU AND YOUR SUB-TENANT MUST HAVE AN AGREEMENT ABOUT CLEANING THE APARTMENT AT THE END OF THE SUMMER. We expect to have a clean apartment returned to us at the end of the lease. We suggest doing a check-in with your sub-tenant so that all parties are in agreement about what is to be done. If, at the end of the lease, our cleaning crew is needed to clean the apartment, we will charge you for the cost. Again, a security deposit held by you from your sub-tenant should alleviate any problems with full recovery of your deposit.
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