Hey everyone, I’m in a bit of a situation. I’m renting a 1BR apt in Mississauga and need to go away for about 6 weeks to take care of a sick family member. I’m trying to save money for their treatment, so I was thinking of subletting my place while I’m gone. I’d only charge half the rent to the subletter. My lease says I need LL permission to sublet. Is this even considered subletting? Or more like a temporary roommate situation since I’m not renting out the bedroom? Also, what should I be aware of if I do this? Any advice is appreciated!
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I understand you’re trying to save money, but this situation is more complicated than it might seem at first. What you’re describing would indeed be considered a sublet, regardless of which parts of the apartment you’re renting out. This is because you’ll be away and someone else will be living in your place.
Subletting comes with risks. The subletter would essentially become your tenant, with many of the protections under the RTA. If they refuse to leave or pay rent when you return, you’d have to go through the LTB to evict them, which can be a long and costly process.
Also, since you’re on a month-to-month lease, you can only sublet for one month at a time. This complicates your 6-week plan.
Honestly, it might be less risky to just pay the full rent for the time you’re away. The potential headaches and legal issues could end up costing you more in the long run.
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wat about airbnb? cud that work?
Airbnb would still be considered a form of subletting, and you’d need your landlord’s permission. Plus, many condo buildings have rules against short-term rentals. It’s also important to note that if you’re away, you won’t be able to manage the property or handle any issues that might come up with guests. It’s generally not recommended unless you have explicit permission and a plan to manage it.
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I guess I didn’t realize how complicated this could get. @tmurphy, you mentioned I can only sublet for a month at a time because I’m month-to-month. Does that mean if I was still in my initial lease period, I could sublet for longer?
That’s correct. If you were still in a fixed-term lease (like a 12-month lease), you could potentially sublet for the remainder of that term. But since you’re month-to-month, your tenancy is essentially renewed each month, so you can’t sublet for longer than your current term (one month).
It’s also worth noting that even if you could sublet for the full 6 weeks, the risks I mentioned earlier would still apply. The subletter could potentially refuse to leave, and you’d be responsible for dealing with that situation.
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have u considerd asking ur LL for a rent reduction while ur away? maybe theyd be willing to help out if u explain the situation
That’s an interesting idea, I hadn’t thought of that. Has anyone ever successfully negotiated something like this with their LL?
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As a LL myself, I wouldn’t agree to a rent reduction for a tenant’s temporary absence. The unit is still occupied and unavailable for me to rent to someone else. Plus, all the costs of maintaining the property remain the same whether the tenant is there or not.
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