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Sublease Agreement template

A sublease agreement lets an existing tenant rent all or part of their home to a subtenant for some or all of the remaining lease term, while the original tenant stays responsible to the landlord.

A sublease agreement is a contract in which an existing tenant rents all or part of their home to a subtenant, while remaining responsible to the landlord under the original lease. You need one when you move out temporarily or take in a lodger, and your lease and local law allow subletting.

Use this template — sign onlineOpens as a ready-to-send document with signature fields placed.
Replace everything in [BRACKETS], export to PDF, then send it for signature.

1. Parties

This Sublease Agreement (the "Sublease") is made on [DATE] between [TENANT NAME], of [TENANT CURRENT ADDRESS] (the "Sublessor"), and [SUBTENANT NAME], of [SUBTENANT CURRENT ADDRESS] (the "Subtenant").

2. Property and Master Lease

The Sublessor rents the property at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] from [LANDLORD NAME] (the "Landlord") under a lease dated [MASTER LEASE DATE] ending on [MASTER LEASE END DATE] (the "Master Lease"). The Sublessor subleases to the Subtenant [the entire property / the following part of the property: ROOM OR AREA, with shared use of COMMON AREAS] (the "Premises"), together with [FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES INCLUDED].

3. Term

The Sublease begins on [START DATE] and ends on [END DATE], which is no later than the end of the Master Lease. The Subtenant must vacate the Premises by the end date without the need for further notice.

4. Rent

The Subtenant will pay rent of [MONTHLY RENT AND CURRENCY] per month, due on the [DAY] day of each month, to [the Sublessor / the Landlord directly] by [PAYMENT METHOD]. Rent paid more than [GRACE PERIOD] days late incurs a late fee of [LATE FEE], to the extent permitted by law. The Sublessor remains responsible for paying rent to the Landlord under the Master Lease.

5. Security Deposit

The Subtenant will pay a security deposit of [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] on signing. The Sublessor will return the deposit within [NUMBER] days after the Sublease ends, less lawful deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, with an itemized list of any deductions, in accordance with applicable law.

6. Utilities

The following utilities are included in the rent: [INCLUDED UTILITIES]. The Subtenant will pay [the following utilities directly: LIST / SHARE of the following bills: LIST].

7. Master Lease Terms

The Subtenant has received a copy of the Master Lease [with financial terms redacted] and agrees to comply with all of its terms that apply to occupants, including rules on pets, noise, smoking, and use of the property. The Subtenant will not do anything that would cause the Sublessor to breach the Master Lease. If the Master Lease ends early for any reason, this Sublease ends at the same time.

8. Condition and Inventory

The Sublessor and Subtenant will complete a written condition report and inventory at move-in and move-out. The Subtenant will keep the Premises clean and in good condition and will pay for damage caused by the Subtenant or their guests, beyond normal wear and tear.

9. Landlord Consent

[CHOOSE ONE: The Landlord's written consent to this Sublease is attached / given below. / The Sublessor confirms the Master Lease permits subletting without the Landlord's consent.] If consent is required and not obtained, this Sublease does not take effect and any amounts paid will be refunded.

10. Governing Law and General Terms

This Sublease is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION] and does not limit any rights either party has under mandatory local tenancy law. The Subtenant may not assign this Sublease or further sublet the Premises. This Sublease is the entire agreement between the parties and may only be amended in writing signed by both.

11. Signatures

The Parties agree that this Agreement may be signed electronically and in counterparts, and that electronic signatures have the same effect as handwritten signatures. SUBLESSOR (TENANT): [TENANT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] SUBTENANT: [SUBTENANT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] LANDLORD CONSENT (IF REQUIRED) I consent to this Sublease. This consent does not release the Sublessor from any obligation under the Master Lease. LANDLORD: [LANDLORD NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE]

Our take: Our take: people forget that subletting does not get the original tenant off the hook. If the subtenant stops paying or damages the place, the landlord will usually come after you, so collect a deposit and do a written condition report before handing over keys. Check your lease first; many require the landlord's written consent, and subletting without it can be a breach. The sublease should never run past the end of your own lease agreement. Add the landlord as a signer when consent is needed, so one document captures everything. For shared homes without a sublet, a roommate agreement is simpler.

When should you use a sublease agreement?

  • When you need to move out temporarily but want to keep your lease
  • When renting a spare room to a subtenant, where your lease allows it
  • When you're leaving before the lease ends and the landlord allows subletting
  • When a landlord requires a written sublease before giving consent

How do you fill in this template?

  1. Check your lease and local law to confirm whether subletting is allowed and whether landlord consent is needed.
  2. Enter the tenant, subtenant, landlord, property address, and master lease dates.
  3. Describe the premises being sublet, set the term, rent, deposit, and utilities split.
  4. Attach the master lease, complete the condition report, and fill in the governing law. If the landlord must consent, add them as the last signer with a signing order.
  5. Upload the sublease to eSignSimple and send it to the subtenant and, if required, the landlord for e-signature.

How do you get it signed online?

  1. Save it as Word or PDF. Paste the filled-in text into Word or Google Docs and keep it as a .docx file, or export it as a PDF. eSignSimple accepts both, plus DOC, ODT and RTF, up to 25 MB; Word files are converted to PDF on upload.
  2. Upload and place the fields. Sign up with Google, upload the file and drag signature, initials, date and text fields onto the page for each signer. Set a signing order if one party must sign first.
  3. Send it for signature. Each signer gets a private link and signs in the browser without creating an account. Automatic email reminders go out every three days (up to three) until everyone has signed.
  4. Keep the signed copy. When the last person signs, everyone can download the final PDF with a certificate of completion, an audit trail and a SHA-256 fingerprint you can verify later.

Signing on your own device only? The guide to signing a PDF covers the free built-in options, and the security page explains how signed files are stored and verified.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state; have a lawyer review contracts with high stakes.

Written by Buğra Sözeri, founder and editor, eSignSimple · Last reviewed

Buğra builds eSignSimple and writes and maintains its guides. He researches each legal page against the official texts linked on it and updates pages when the law or the product changes. He is not a lawyer, and nothing here is legal advice. About eSignSimple

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my landlord's permission to sublease?

Often yes. Many leases require written landlord consent, and some jurisdictions have their own rules on subletting. Check your lease and local law before signing a sublease.

Who is responsible if the subtenant doesn't pay rent?

Usually the original tenant remains responsible to the landlord under the master lease, even if the subtenant fails to pay. That's why a written sublease with a deposit matters.

What is the difference between a sublease and a lease assignment?

In a sublease, the original tenant keeps the lease and rents to a subtenant. In an assignment, the original tenant transfers the whole lease to a new tenant, who then deals directly with the landlord.

Can a sublease be signed electronically?

In many places, yes. eSignSimple lets the tenant, subtenant, and landlord sign online without accounts, and records timestamps, IP addresses, and a document hash.

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