Planning to Sublease an Apartment at USF

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

Have U Heard that when a student moves into an off-campus apartment, they generally sign a lease for twelve months? So looking to sublease can be a challenge. (It is a 10-month lease that prorates apartments, so it gets paid over 12 months). Most leases run mid to late August through – July 31/Aug 1. Unlike most dorms, students are responsible for the entire year, even if they do not intend to stay for the summer. However, most apartment complexes will allow students to sublet their apartments. You will, nevertheless, have to jump through a few hoops to make it happen.

To find a sublessor for the summer, it is best to start looking at the semester before (in the fall). 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. Get the word out there if you are in a sorority or fraternity or involved in any sort of club. Take it if you can make an arrangement with someone you trust early. Do not count on getting your full rent covered. Most people tend to give up their summer leases, so finding someone to take over your lease in the summer can be tricky. Most girls in sororities will have to come back two weeks before the start of school, and many of them will not be able to move into their apartments yet. Be on the lookout for posts around mid/late summer because girls will be looking to sublease for those two weeks out of August, which would still give you back half of your monthly rent. Something is better than nothing, though.

If you want someone to take over for the fall semester, try looking at the summer before. Many people sign a lease and find options that better suit them last minute. 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 or go abroad and are committed to a year’s lease. Finding one of these with roommates you will be happy to live with can get complicated, but it is definitely possible.

The most popular way students find those willing to sublease is through the USF/HCC Sublease Facebook pages.  Also, check out Facebook pages related to Roommates, Off-Campus Housing & Apartments.  Make sure your parents join a USF Parent Facebook page, as there are always posts shared by parents trying to help their students with their housing dilemmas.  Believe it or not, parents have helped many students find their roommates or housing choices simply by connecting their students to those in need. Other places to look are Live Somewhere, USF U Loop, and Off-Campus Housing.

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 because, 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 be sure who caused the damage. You will hear stories of students being charged for a broken appliance, even though they were studying outside the country, simply because their name was still on the lease.

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. Check out our blog on storage here.

Another resource is apartmentsforbulls.com, which is a guide to Tampa apartments that meet your lifestyle and budget.