How to find someone to take over your lease

Step by step

1. Ask your property manager how takeovers work: the forms, any relet fee, how long approval takes, and what the applicant needs.
2. Collect the details a candidate will ask for: monthly rent, lease start and end dates, unit type, deposit, included utilities, and move-in date.
3. Price it fairly. A takeover that costs more than comparable units won't get applicants.
4. Post the unit with real photos and the lease dates in places renters look: school housing boards, local Facebook groups, and listing sites.
5. Send serious candidates to apply directly with the property. The property, not you, approves the new tenant.
6. Check that the application is approved and the takeover forms are signed by the landlord and the new tenant.
7. Get written confirmation that you are released from the lease, and the date it takes effect.

Where the best candidates come from

Students and interns often need housing at fixed times of year, so a lease ending in the summer or starting in the fall attracts people who need a unit with the same dates. Use the wording a candidate would search for, like "lease takeover" and the neighborhood.

Stay safe

• Don't accept deposits or fees from a candidate. The property collects its own.
• Don't hand over keys or access before the landlord has approved the new tenant.
• Meet candidates in person or on video, and be wary of anyone who can't or won't.

Or let someone else do the sourcing

If you don't have the time, Dryft finds the incoming tenant for you. Your agent sources demand and keeps you updated by email, and the tenant applies directly to your property. If Dryft doesn't find a replacement tenant, you get your money back: you can request a full refund for any reason until the incoming tenant signs the official lease.