How to Help Your College Student Get Out of an Apartment Lease
Short answer: In most cases you have four options — find someone to take over the lease (a lease takeover/assignment), sublet it, negotiate an early termination with the landlord, or break the lease and pay the penalty. A lease takeover is usually the cleanest way to stop owing rent, but almost every option starts with reading the lease and getting the landlord's approval in writing.
If you co-signed or guaranteed the lease, this matters to you directly: until the lease is properly ended or transferred, you can be on the hook for the rent, not just your student.
First step: read the lease before doing anything
Before contacting the landlord, find these clauses:
- Assignment / lease takeover — whether the lease can be transferred to a new tenant (and any fee).
- Subletting — whether subleasing is allowed and under what conditions.
- Early termination — whether there's a buyout option and what it costs (often 1–2 months' rent).
- Notice requirements — how much written notice is required and how it must be delivered.
- Co-signer / guarantor terms — what you, as the parent, are responsible for.
Knowing what the lease allows tells you which option below is realistic.
Option 1: Lease takeover (assignment) — usually the cleanest exit
A lease takeover means a new, qualified renter takes over the remaining term of the lease and becomes responsible for the rent going forward, replacing your student (and releasing you, once the landlord approves the transfer in writing).
- Best when: you want to fully stop owing rent and the landlord allows assignment.
- Pros: if done right and approved by the landlord, your student (and you as co-signer) are released from future rent.
- Cons: you need to find a qualified replacement, and the landlord must approve them.
- How: confirm the lease allows assignment, find a replacement renter, have them apply with the landlord/property manager, and get the transfer/release in writing.
This is what ReletMe is built for: you list the lease, set the details, and connect with renters who are actively looking to take over a lease in that city or near that campus. ReletMe is a marketplace — the landlord still approves the new tenant and the transfer happens directly with the property management company.
Option 2: Subletting — useful, but read the fine print
With a sublet, your student stays on the lease but rents the unit to someone else who pays rent in their place.
- Best when: the absence is temporary (a semester abroad, a summer internship) and your student plans to return.
- Important caution: your student (and you) usually remain legally responsible for the rent. If the subletter stops paying or damages the unit, it falls back on you. Many leases prohibit subletting without written permission.
Option 3: Negotiate an early termination with the landlord
Sometimes the simplest path is asking. Landlords may agree to release the lease — especially if you offer to help find a replacement tenant or pay a reasonable buyout.
- Best when: the relationship is good or the unit is easy to re-rent.
- How: put the request in writing, propose a solution (replacement tenant, agreed buyout), and get any agreement and release in writing before stopping payment.
Option 4: Break the lease and pay — the last resort
If nothing else works, breaking the lease means paying an early-termination fee or the remaining rent owed, per the lease and your state's law.
- Worth knowing: in many U.S. states, a landlord has a "duty to mitigate" — meaning they must make a reasonable effort to re-rent the unit, which can limit how much you owe. This varies by state, so check your local law.
- Best when: the cost of paying out is lower than the hassle, or no replacement is possible.
Special situations parents ask about
- Studying abroad or a semester away: a sublet or short-term takeover often fits best.
- Transferring schools or dropping out: a full lease takeover usually makes the most sense, since your student won't return.
- Internship or co-op in another city: sublet if returning; takeover if not.
- Medical or mental-health withdrawal: some leases and some states allow early termination for documented medical reasons — ask the landlord and check the lease.
- You co-signed the lease: you stay financially responsible until the lease is formally transferred or terminated in writing — get the release documented, don't rely on a verbal "okay."
How a lease takeover works on ReletMe
- List the lease — rent, location, lease end date, and details.
- Connect with renters actively searching for a takeover in that area.
- Send your chosen replacement to the landlord/property manager to apply and get approved.
- The landlord approves the new tenant and the transfer happens directly between you and the property management company.
ReletMe helps you find the replacement and message them; it doesn't handle the lease, payments, or approvals — those stay between you and the landlord.
Frequently asked questions
Will I still owe rent after my student moves out?
Yes — until the lease is formally transferred (takeover) or terminated in writing, the people on the lease (and any co-signer) generally still owe rent. Subletting usually does not remove that responsibility.
Do I need the landlord's permission?
Almost always, yes — for a takeover or a sublet. Get approval in writing.
Is a lease takeover the same as subletting?
No. In a takeover/assignment, a new tenant replaces your student and takes on the lease. In a sublet, your student stays on the lease and remains responsible.
Can we just break the lease?
You can, but you'll typically owe an early-termination fee or remaining rent. Many states require the landlord to try to re-rent the unit, which can reduce what's owed — check your state's law.
As a co-signer, how do I get released?
Get a written release from the landlord once the lease is transferred or terminated. A verbal agreement isn't enough.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Lease terms and tenant laws vary by lease and by state — always verify with the actual lease and the landlord/property management company before acting.