Sublet Definition

Sublet means to lease or rent all or part of a leased or rented property. A subtenant is someone who has the right to use and occupy rental property leased by a tenant from a landlord. A subtenant has responsibilities to both the landlord and the tenant. A tenant must often get the consent of the landlord before subletting rental property to a subtenant. The tenant still remains responsible for the payment of rent to the landlord and any damages to the property caused by the subtenant.

Generally, to evict a roommate, you must be the original tenant (or the one who has signed a lease or rental agreement with the landlord), and the roommate you want to evict must be your landlord's subtenant. A subtenant is usually someone who is renting part of your place from you and paying rent to you instead of your landlord. In this relationship, you are the "landlord" and your roommate is your "tenant."

You can't evict a roommate if you and your roommate are cotenants. You are cotenants if you and your roommate both signed the lease or rental agreement.