Subletting your apartment unit comes with a number of significant risks that should be carefully considered. As the subletter's landlord, you are responsible for any damage or theft caused by the subletter and their guests. If the subletter stays beyond the term of your original lease with us and does not leave willingly, you may be held responsible for the loss of rental income from incoming students and any additional management and legal fees incurred in evicting the subletter. It is important to inform us of any intention to sublet and obtain written permission from Blackline Management. Please note that this will not absolve you of any legal or financial liability related to subletting. If you do decide to sublet, we recommend subletting to friends or students with valid student IDs and checking their references.
A real-life example of the potential consequences of subletting can be seen in the following case study: We recently had a group of students sublet to 4 people who turned out to be middle-aged crackheads on social assistance. These 4 individuals rented 4 bedrooms in a 5-bedroom unit, leaving one student stranded with them. The subletters only paid the students one month of rent. We later discovered that there were 9 people applying for welfare through this unit in late July. The TV, Xbox, and Rogers cable box in the common games room were stolen, and there was significant damage and evidence of cigarette and drug use in the unit. We had to repaint the unit and replace damaged doors, door frames, flooring, and furniture. The stove and fridge were also damaged and had to be replaced. We had to hire security guards to keep other tenants safe and the building secure, and we had to pay for multiple lock changes to secure the building. We also had to seek legal advice and hire paralegals and lawyers to assist in evicting the tenants. We even had to threaten the ringleader with video footage of him in a stolen rental van, and ultimately had to pay him $500 to get the subletters to leave. All of these costs will be recovered from the original tenants and their guarantors through the court system, and the 4 students are now facing the prospect of hiring lawyers and paying tens of thousands of dollars in damages and expenses. To avoid a similar outcome, it is crucial to be cautious when subletting your apartment unit.