Planning to Sublease an Apartment at UM?

Here’s How to Sublease – The Supply is Greater Than the Demand

HaveUHeard that when a student moves into an off-campus apartment they generally sign a lease for twelve months? So how do you sublease? Most leases run early August (usually a few days up to a week after August 1st) through July 31st. Unlike most dorms, students are responsible for the entire year, even though your student doesn’t have classes over the summer in most cases. However, unless you are able to secure a nine-month lease, most apartment complexes will allow students to sublet their apartments. You will, nevertheless, have to jump through a few hoops to make a sublease happen.

To find a sublessor for the summer, it is best to start looking in the fall semester. It may seem a bit early, but there are usually more available apartments looking for sublessors than there are people looking to sublet. Post on Facebook pages and begin asking around in December.  If you are in a sorority or fraternity or involved any sort of club or organization, get the word out there. Another good avenue for possible interest is with those students coming from dorm residences. If they are spending the summer in Miami, they may need a bridge from their dorm move-out to their fall apartment lease. If you can make an arrangement with someone you trust early, take it!

Another option is to try to sublease it to students from other parts of the state (or country) that are coming to Miami for internships. They can post on the Facebook pages for Miami Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets or University of Miami (UM) Housing, Sublets & Roommates

Students may also want to check out Lumi if they are looking for quarterly housing (or a full academic year). Lumi Living is an off-campus student housing company that provides top-of-the-line, community-oriented residential services to students.

Don’t count on getting your full rent covered. Due to the unbalanced supply and demand, many people tend to write off their summer leases. That means finding someone to take over your lease in the summer can be tricky and require flexibility. For example, there may be students who will be in Miami for part of the summer. If you are looking for someone to take over your lease for the fall semester, try looking late in the preceding spring semester and during the summer. Many people sign a lease or have plans in place, only to find themselves unexpectedly needing to make a last-minute change. And don’t give up too soon! Those people looking for a new place all of a sudden will be –often desperately — looking for you and your available sublet. Be sure to continue to post and spread the word.

If you are looking for a spring sublease, this may be a bit tough since most people have already signed year leases. Definitely start posting in the fall semester (around October/November). There are students that decide to take a semester off, study abroad, or participate in studies or internships with non-traditional scheduling; their apartment needs may be a perfect complement to yours. Finding one of these with roommates that you will be happy to live with can get complicated, but it’s definitely possible.

Some apartment complexes charge a sublet fee. Most all require signed forms with complete information on your sublessor. It is to your advantage to play by the rules and be sure all forms and fees are taken care of.  Without them, you (the original renter) are responsible for any damage that may occur in your absence…and it happens. As a matter of fact, all renters may be responsible if they cannot determine who caused the damage. My daughter and all her roommates were recently charged for a broken washing machine when she wasn’t even in the country, but, with her name still on the lease, she was still on the hook. Depending on how much you will be getting for the sublet, once the fees are paid, you may also want to consider the cost of storing your student’s belongings during the duration of the sublet.

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