New York City law allows market-rate and rent-stabilized tenants to sublet their apartments if they live in a building with four or more units. New York City law does not allow tenants that live in multiple dwellings (3 apartments or more) to sublet apartments for less than thirty days.
Building owners dislike competing with their own tenants in their efforts to lease space. As a result, many if not most office leases contain restrictions on subleasing. Among these are: Requirements for landlord consent and approval of the subtenant and the sublease terms.
Make Your Request to Sublet in Writing Even if you've orally discussed a sublet in person with your landlord, it's a good idea to follow up the request in writing. This ensures that you're both on the same page regarding the terms of the sublet, and gives you a written record to refer to if memories fail.
If your tenant did not get your permission to sublet and you have a sublet clause in your lease, they have officially broken the lease. This means you can send out a notice to comply or vacate the property. Subletting without permission is cause for eviction, but you aren't required to evict the tenant.
These laws are designed to deter fraudulent activity and protect landlords from illegal profits made by tenants who sublet their properties without permission. Unauthorized subletting is considered a criminal offense, punishable by law, as it involves a breach of trust and a violation of the landlord-tenant agreement.
If your tenancy doesn't have a fixed end date you'll need your landlord's permission to sublet your whole home. If they say no, they don't have to give you a reason. If there's a fixed end date for your tenancy, you're allowed to sublet your whole home.
Yes, they can. If you sublet your unit without your landlord's consent, they have the right to ask you to leave. Subletting without permission can be a violation of the lease agreement, and landlords have the authority to enforce the terms of the lease.
So first, in NYC a landlord cannot unreasonably deny a request to sublet. You must submit a written request at least 30 days in advance, and it must include things like who you'll be subletting to, why you're wanting to sublet, where you'll be during this period, etc...