A tenant can sublet without the landlord's permission, even if the lease says its forbidden. You can, but it's not a good idea.Most leases prohibit subletting, or only allow it with permission. You are entitled to request permission to sublet from the owner, and the owner may not unreasonably refuse such permission. If you would like to sublease your apartment, you must first tell your landlord that you want to do this. Landlords can screen subtenants and deny them based on legally acceptable reasons, but they cannot withhold consent unreasonably. Generally, in NYC, tenants have the right to sublet their apartments with the landlord's permission. However, there are some exceptions. All occupants 18 and over are leaseholders and are required to sign the Lease Agreement. They must have satisfactory, verifiable, rental history or mortgage.