With midterms in your rearview mirror, summer is coming right around the bend. If you’re not sure where you’ll be when the hub heats up, it’s time to figure it out—especially if you’ll have to leave your apartment before your lease ends and find a summer subletter. Luckily, we found three seniors who are experienced in securing subletters and are willing to show you the ropes: Eva Bilick (political communication), Christina Hernandez (marketing communication), and Kyle Leathers (print & multimedia journalism).
1. Take advantage of the Tackboard.
If you’ve already talked to friends and traveled the Facebook event route, use the Tackboard on Emerson’s eCampus to get the word out about your soon-to-be vacant pad. Just this month, more than 20 Emerson students have listed summer sublets. Only Emerson students can see them, which means listing your place could bring you even closer to finding someone like you and your roommates. “I like using the Emerson Tackboard,” Bilick says. “That way, I’m looking in my own community, so the subletter seems more familiar and trustworthy.”
2. Know what you’re looking for in a subletter.
Spend some time thinking about what kind of person you and your roommates would like to fill your shoes. You’ll probably have at least three months worth of rent and a security deposit riding on whomever you choose. “Can they pay the rent? That’s honestly the biggest factor for me,” Leathers says. “If they seem like they’re going to throw parties all the time and mess up the apartment I’d [also] be a little more hesitant to rent to them.” Your roommates’ comfort—and your friendships—could be on the line, too. Bilick and Hernandez recommend finding a friendly subletter who could get along with your roommates and live up to their standards of cleanliness.
3. Don’t ignore red flags.
If you feel like you’re about to get a bad deal or that you just don’t vibe well with your potential subletter, reconsider letting him or her take your place. Hernandez says she thinks twice when someone attempts to negotiate paying well below the rent or doesn’t have a steady job, as well as when a group of people wants to split the room. For Bilick, a bad attitude is enough to reject a prospective subletter. “I’ve gotten responses from people that seemed curt, even rude. I’m a big fan of politeness and chivalry, so that includes e-mail etiquette,” Bilick says, noting that “hellos” and “thank yous” go a long way.
4. Get to know the potential subletter.
Finding the right subletter is important. If you have extra time to spend, use it to make sure you can trust him or her. “Unless you’re in a big hurry to lock down a subletter, try getting to know the person a little before letting them take over your room,” Hernandez says. “People can appear to be trustworthy and normal, but without a little background check, you might get stuck with someone that is trying to stiff you or just not adhere to their agreement on the lease.”
5. Seal the deal with a subletter agreement.
Even if you trust your subletter, here’s the bottom line: You’re the original lessee, and the rent and utilities are on you if they don’t pay. You can’t protect yourself enough, so ask your subletter to sign a contract. Many forms are available online. “Those few minutes it would take to find and print it off could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if the subletter decides not to pay,” Leathers says. Give a copy to your landlord so he or she feels secure in your decision, too.
The sooner you get started, the sooner you can move on with the rest of your semester and get psyched for the summer. Comment or tweet at us (@HCEmerson) with your questions about finding a summer subletter and we’ll find an answer for you, or tell us some of your own tips!
Photo credit: stock.xchng, nitelife-d