Leaving for the Summer: Sublet or Lease Takeover?
Short answer: If you're returning to the apartment in the fall, sublet for the summer. If your lease ends mid-summer or you're not coming back, do a lease takeover. The deciding question is the same as always: are you keeping this apartment after summer?
Quick decision matrix
- Returning in the fall to the same apartment → sublet.
- Lease ends in August, you're moving → sublet (short window) or eat the months if no one bites.
- Not coming back at all → takeover.
- Internship in another city → sublet your place, find a sublet there.
Pricing a summer sublet
Summer subletters are typically interns, summer-class students, or short-term workers. Expect:
- Slight discount off your monthly rate for furnished short-term.
- Furnished: rents faster, often at near-full price.
- Utilities included works well for short stays — easier than transferring accounts.
The non-negotiable: landlord approval
Get the landlord's written okay before you list. Subletting without permission can be grounds for lease termination — and would put your security deposit (and your co-signer) at risk.
If you're doing a takeover instead
See the full how-to: how to find someone to take over your lease. The mechanics are the same year-round; summer is just an off-cycle move that often pulls more interest from incoming students.
Related
- Getting out of your lease for a semester abroad
- Takeover vs. sublet vs. break the lease
- Get out of a student apartment lease
Frequently asked questions
Is summer easier or harder to fill?
Both — depends on the market. College towns can be slow in summer (students home), but summer-intern hubs (DC, NYC, Austin, Boston, SF) have strong short-term demand.
Can I do a short takeover for just the summer?
If the lease ends in the fall, sometimes — but most leases run a full year. A short-term sublet usually fits 'just the summer' better than a takeover.
What rate should I charge a summer subletter?
Most subletters expect a small discount off your monthly rent for furnished short-term stays. Don't charge above your lease amount.
Furnished or unfurnished?
Furnished short-term sublets are much easier to fill. If you're storing your stuff anyway, leaving the basics often pays for itself in faster booking.
General information, not legal advice. Lease terms vary — verify with the actual lease and landlord before acting.