What is a sublease?

A sublease refers specifically to a lease transfer from an original tenant to another party, known as the subtenant. In this arrangement, the original tenant retains some interest in the original lease, while allowing the subtenant to occupy and use the leased property, usually under similar terms as the original lease. This arrangement requires the consent of the landlord in many cases and often includes specific stipulations regarding the responsibilities and rights of both the original tenant and the subtenant.

While other choices touch on aspects of rental agreements or tenancy, they do not capture the distinct legal relationship that a sublease entails. For example, a rental agreement involving multiple tenants does not necessarily indicate a sublease; it may simply refer to a shared tenancy arrangement where all tenants are on the same lease. Similarly, while a legal document for tenancy rights and a contract for commercial property leasing are relevant to leasing agreements, they do not specifically define the nature of a sublease, which is primarily concerned with the transfer of lease rights from one tenant to another.