How To Convince Your Roommate To Let You Sublet Your Place

By Francine Fluetsch on November 2, 2015

So, you have a problem. You want to sublet your place but one of your roommates isn’t down. Subletting can be a bit of a process and some people are not really up to the idea, but here are some ways that you can try and convince them to let you sublet your place, so you can save money and give a summer student a place to live.

image via www.rentseeker.ca

Know the subletters:

If you know the subletters, you can warm your roommate up to them, and it won’t be as sketchy as having random people in your place. Maybe have them over and let your roommate talk to them, and go over all the logistics of where the subletter would stay, how long they would stay, and so on. This is especially important if your roommate is going to stay in your place over summer with the subletter. They don’t want a crappy situation, so if they already know the people, you will have an easier time convincing your roommate that the idea is a good one.

If you don’t know anyone who wants to sublet, start putting your ad out early so you will have a chance to meet the people and accomplish the steps above. Nothing will be finalized, so your roommate can still change their mind if they don’t like the people. Have them be an active part of interviewing the potential subletters, and even have each subletter submit a profile so you’ll remember them and know more about them.

Use a contract:

If you are going to sublet, you have to do it right. Clear it with your landlord and ask them to draw up a temporary lease for the subletters. If you can set all of this up, I’m sure you will have an easier time convincing your roommate the subletting makes sense. This way, you are not having people there when it’s against the rules, and if anything happens you are backed up by a document so you won’t be responsible for things that you had no control over.

Off-limit areas:

If your roommate is worried about the subletter touching their things, come up with some off-limit areas. Have your roommate lock their door and tell the subletter not to go in there. If there are certain things in common areas that your roommate doesn’t feel comfortable having the subletters use, help them move the items into their bedroom. This might seem a little over the top, but some people just don’t want their stuff messed with, and if you can accommodate them, they might be more open to the idea of other people living in the house for the summer.

Crunch the numbers:

A sure way to get your roommate on board with subletters is to show them how much money they could potentially save if someone stays in your place, and then again if someone were to stay in their room. Depending on the subletter, you might be able to get them to pay almost all of your rent, so really point this out to your roommate. Money talks.

Be considerate:

When bringing up the idea of subletting, don’t get heated when they start telling you their doubts. You want to be considerate and hear them out. Once you know what they are worried about, you can see if you have solutions that will make you both happy. Keep the conversation calm and let them think it over. It’s a big decision to let someone else live in your place.

You can then go into all the positives of having someone sublet and tell your roommate how you will both be saving a lot of money.

Let this conversation run for a few days; don’t force them to decide in one night.

Get renter’s insurance:

Tell your roommate about renter’s insurance and insist that you get it before the subletter would move in. Some insurances go by person, and some go by the place, so look into that to calm your roommates’ nerves. This will give more security in addition to the renter’s contract.

“You break it, you buy it” rule:

You can set out a rule with the subletters that if they break or damage anything, they will have to replace it. Make sure to put this in writing and explain it to them, so it won’t get awkward later. This will help give your roommate peace of mind, and they might be more open to letting people use their things. Make sure that both you and your roommate take home valuable things so you don’t have to risk them getting broken, especially if they can’t be replaced.

Good luck convincing your roommate! There are tons of positive things that you can bring up, but make sure not to push them into something that they don’t want to do.

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