What we verified in “Subletting or adding a roommate to your lease”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to USAGov, before getting outside help in a dispute with a landlord, read your lease carefully and make sure you follow the rules you agreed to; find your state agency that handles tenant rights; and you can look for affordable legal aid.

   Sources 1 · Tenant rights (USAGov, last updated April 15, 2026): 'Before getting outside help, read your lease carefully. Make sure you are following the rental rules you agreed to'; 'Find help from your state agency that addresses tenant rights'; 'Learn how to find affordable legal aid' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. Under Texas law (Property Code §91.005), during the term of a lease the tenant may not rent the home to another person without the landlord's prior consent.

   Sources 2 · Tex. Prop. Code §91.005, Subletting prohibited: 'During the term of a lease, the tenant may not rent the leasehold to any other person without the prior consent of the landlord' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. According to the New York Attorney General's tenants' rights guide, it is unlawful for a landlord to restrict occupancy to the named tenant or that tenant and immediate family; when the lease names one tenant, that tenant may share with immediate family, one additional occupant and the occupant's dependent children, if the tenant or spouse lives there; when the lease names more than one tenant, they may share with immediate family and, if one moves out, that tenant may be replaced by another occupant and dependent children, as long as at least one named tenant or spouse lives there; the tenant must tell the landlord the occupant's name within 30 days; and if the named tenant moves out, the occupant has no right to stay without the landlord's express consent.

   Sources 3 · Residential Tenants' Rights Guide, 'Apartment Sharing' (Real Property Law §235-f): 'It is unlawful for a landlord to restrict occupancy of an apartment to the named tenant in the lease or to that tenant and immediate family'; 'When the lease names only one tenant, that tenant may share the apartment with immediate family, one additional occupant, and the occupant’s dependent children'; 'When the lease names more than one tenant'; 'if one of the tenants named in the lease moves out, that tenant may be replaced with another occupant'; 'At least one of the tenants named in the lease or that tenant’s spouse must occupy'; 'within 30 days'; 'the remaining occupant has no right to continue in occupancy without the landlord’s express consent' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. According to the same guide, in New York subletting means leaving the apartment temporarily; in buildings with four or more apartments the tenant has the right to sublet with the landlord's advance consent, and a lease clause restricting it is void; in buildings with three or fewer there is no such right, and if the landlord unreasonably refuses, the tenant's only remedy is release from the lease after 30 days' notice; if the landlord consents, the tenant remains liable for the whole lease, including all future rent; if the landlord refuses on reasonable grounds, the tenant cannot sublet; and if the landlord refuses on unreasonable grounds, the tenant may sublet anyway.

   Sources 3 · Residential Tenants' Rights Guide, 'Subletting or Assigning Leases' (Real Property Law §226-b): 'To sublet means that the tenant is temporarily leaving the apartment'; 'Tenants in buildings with three or fewer apartments do not have a right to sublet'; 'the tenant’s only remedy is to be let out of their lease after 30 days’ notice'; 'Tenants in buildings with four or more apartments have the right to sublet with the landlord’s advance consent'; 'Any lease provision restricting a tenant’s right to sublease is void'; 'the tenant remains liable to the landlord for the obligations of the lease, including all future rent'; 'If the landlord denies the sublet on reasonable grounds, the tenant cannot sublet'; 'If the landlord denies the sublet on unreasonable grounds, the tenant may sublet anyway' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. According to the same guide, in New York a sublet request goes in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and includes the length of the sublet, the proposed subtenant's name and addresses, the reason, your address during the sublet, the written consent of any co-tenant or guarantor, and a copy of the proposed sublease and your lease; the landlord may ask for more information within ten days and must answer in writing within 30 days; and if the landlord does not answer, it counts as consent.

   Sources 3 · Residential Tenants' Rights Guide, 'Subletting or Assigning Leases': 'The tenant must send a written request to the landlord by certified mail, return-receipt requested'; '(a) the length of the sublease; (b) the name, home and business address of the proposed subtenant; (c) the reason for subletting; (d) the tenant’s address during the sublet; (e) the written consent of any co-tenant or guarantor; and (f) a copy of the proposed sublease together with a copy of the tenant’s own lease'; 'Within ten days of mailing this request, the landlord may ask the tenant for additional information'; 'Within 30 days'; 'A landlord’s failure to send this written notice is considered consent to sublet' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. According to the CFPB, if a landlord rejects your rental application because of information in a tenant screening report, it must give you an adverse action notice, in writing, orally or electronically, with the name, address and phone number of the company that made the report, your right to a free copy if you ask within 60 days and your right to dispute inaccurate information; adverse action also includes requiring a co-signer, a larger deposit or higher rent than other applicants; and the company generally has 30 days to investigate your dispute.

   Sources 4 · What should I do if my rental application is denied because of a tenant screening report?: 'requires a landlord who rejects or denies your tenant application because of information in a tenant screening report to notify you'; 'adverse action notice'; 'Be given in writing, orally, or electronically'; 'Provide the name, address, and phone number of the company that provided the report'; 'free copy of the report, if you request it within 60 days'; 'Requiring a co-signer'; 'Requiring a larger deposit or a higher rent payment'; 'generally has 30 days to investigate your dispute' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. Under HUD's public housing rule (24 CFR §966.4(d) and (f)), the tenant has the right to exclusive use of the unit by household members authorized in the lease, including reasonable accommodation of their guests; a guest is a person staying temporarily with the tenant's consent; and the lease obligates the tenant not to assign the lease or sublease the unit, not to take in boarders or lodgers, and to use the unit only as a residence for the household named in the lease.

   Sources 5 · 24 CFR §966.4(d)(1): 'the right to exclusive use and occupancy of the leased unit by the members of the household authorized to reside in the unit in accordance with the lease, including reasonable accommodation of their guests'; (f)(1): 'Not to assign the lease or to sublease the dwelling unit'; (f)(2): 'Not to provide accommodations for boarders or lodgers'; (f)(3): 'solely as a private dwelling for the tenant and the tenant's household as identified in the lease'; 24 CFR §5.100, 'Guest': 'a person temporarily staying in the unit with the consent of a tenant' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. Under HUD's voucher rule (24 CFR §982.551(h)), the housing authority must approve who lives in the unit; you must promptly report the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child and ask for approval to add anyone else; nobody but the approved family may live there, except an approved foster child or live-in aide; you must report when someone no longer lives there; and you may not sublease or let the unit, or assign the lease.

   Sources 6 · 24 CFR §982.551(h)(2): 'The composition of the assisted family residing in the unit must be approved by the PHA'; 'must promptly inform the PHA of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child'; 'must request PHA approval to add any other family member'; 'No other person [i.e., nobody but members of the assisted family] may reside in the unit'; (h)(3): 'must promptly notify the PHA if any family member no longer resides in the unit'; (h)(4): 'a foster child or a live-in-aide'; (h)(6): 'The family must not sublease or let the unit'; (h)(7): 'must not assign the lease or transfer the unit' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. According to the LSC, it is an independent nonprofit established by Congress to fund civil legal aid for low-income people in every state, the District of Columbia and the territories; on its website you enter an address or city to find the nearest organization, and LawHelp.org has free legal information and forms.

   Sources 7 · I Need Legal Help: 'LSC is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans'; 'in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories'; 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you'; 'You can also visit LawHelp.org' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. According to the CFPB, the counseling agencies in its search tool are approved by HUD and offer independent advice, often at little or no cost, on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures and credit; you search by ZIP code; and not every agency offers every service.

    Sources 8 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'; 'offer independent advice, often at little or no cost to you'; 'buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'Search by ZIP code'; 'Not every housing counselor offers all services' · Checked October 31, 2026