ASU Subletting Guide: How to Sublet Your Apartment in Tempe

Every May, thousands of ASU students face the same problem: you have a lease that runs through July or August, you're going home for the summer, and the idea of paying $800–1,200/month for an empty apartment in Tempe while you're not there is genuinely painful.

Subletting is the solution. But if you do it wrong, it can create real problems. Here's how to do it right.

First: Check Your Lease

This is not optional. Before you post anything anywhere, read your lease. Specifically look for language about:

• Subletting or subleasing — some leases prohibit it entirely
• Assignment of lease — related but different (you transfer your entire lease vs. maintaining responsibility)
• Guest policies — some leases restrict how long a guest can stay, which is different from subletting but relevant

Common apartment complexes near ASU and their typical policies:

• Vertex — standard corporate complex management; subletting typically requires written approval from management
• Rise at Chaparral — managed by larger property group; similar approval requirements
• Oliv ASU — newer complex; check your specific lease, management varies
• 922 Place — older complex; policies may be more flexible but still require review
• The Local — review your lease carefully; management approval is standard

Most professional property management companies in Tempe allow subletting with written permission. The key word is written. Get any approval in writing.

Arizona Law: What You Need to Know

Arizona is a landlord-friendly state in many ways, but subtenants have some protections worth understanding.

Under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 33, the key points for subletting:

• Your landlord must consent if your lease requires it (and most do)
• You remain responsible — even if you sublet, you are still the primary tenant. If your subtenant doesn't pay rent or damages the apartment, you owe the landlord. This is the most important thing to understand.
• A written sublease agreement between you and your subtenant is strongly recommended. It's not legally required by Arizona law, but it protects you significantly.

A simple sublease agreement should include:

• Names of both parties
• Property address
• Sublease start and end dates
• Monthly rent amount and due date
• Security deposit amount (collect one from your subtenant)
• Rules for the apartment (guests, pets, parking)
• Condition of the apartment at move-in (document with photos)

You can find free sublease agreement templates from Arizona legal aid organizations or Nolo.com. Don't pay for one.

Pricing Your Summer Sublet

How much you charge depends on your rent, your apartment's amenities, and timing.

The basic formula: Your monthly rent is your floor, not your ceiling.

You're offering furnished housing (usually), a flexible short-term stay, and a location near ASU. Students and young professionals doing internships in the Phoenix area actively look for exactly this during summer. You can often charge at or slightly above your rent for a fully furnished place in a desirable location.

Factors that affect your price:

• Furnished vs. unfurnished (furnished commands significantly more)
• Whether utilities are included (simplifies things for the subtenant, allows you to charge more)
• Proximity to campus and the light rail on University Drive
• Pool, gym, parking availability
• Length of sublet (shorter stays can command a weekly premium)

Realistic pricing for Tempe summer 2026:

• Studio, furnished, near campus: $900–1,200/month
• 1BR in a 2BR apartment, furnished: $750–950/month
• 1BR apartment, furnished, all-in: $1,100–1,400/month

Compare against Airbnb/VRBO rates for the area — if you're significantly cheaper than a short-term rental for the same amenities, you'll get interest fast.

Where to List Your Sublet

ASU List — The most targeted option if your subtenant is an ASU student. International students arriving for summer session, students doing research, and incoming fall students who want to get established early are all actively looking for summer sublets. Listing here reaches the audience most likely to be a reliable tenant for a campus-adjacent apartment.

ASU Facebook Groups — Search for "ASU Housing," "ASU Sublets," and the class-year groups ("ASU Class of 2028" etc.). These are high-traffic for housing posts, especially in March and April when students start planning summer.

Craigslist Phoenix — Still active for housing in the Phoenix metro, especially for young professionals and interns who aren't ASU students but want to live near the light rail or in Tempe specifically. List under "Phoenix > Tempe" for geographic targeting.

Furnished Finder — Specifically designed for furnished short-term rentals. Used heavily by traveling nurses and professionals doing short contracts. If your apartment is near a hospital corridor or easily accessible via the light rail, this can generate strong leads.

The Roomies app — Growing platform for student housing; worth a listing.

Timeline: When to Start Looking

Don't wait until May. Students and interns start looking for summer housing in February and March. By April, the best subtenants have already committed somewhere.

Ideal timeline:

• February: Confirm your summer plans, decide you're subletting
• March 1: Get written approval from your landlord/management
• March 1–15: Post listings with clear dates and pricing
• March–April: Show the apartment, screen candidates
• April–May: Sign sublease agreement, collect security deposit
• Late May: Hand off keys, leave on good terms

If you're starting in late April or May, you can still find someone, but your candidate pool will be smaller and you may need to drop the price.

Screening Your Subtenant

You're taking on real financial risk by subletting. Vet your subtenant.

At minimum:

• Ask for their student ID or university email (verifies they're an ASU student if that's who you're targeting)
• Ask about their summer plans specifically (why they need housing in Tempe)
• Collect a security deposit before handing over keys
• Photograph every room in detail before move-in and send it to them in writing

You don't need a formal credit check for a short-term student sublet, but trust your judgment on the conversation. If something feels off, it probably is.

What to Do with Your Stuff

If you're subletting a furnished apartment, most of your furniture stays. What about your personal items?

Options:

• Storage unit — CubeSmart and Public Storage both have locations near ASU on Apache Blvd and University Drive. A 5x5 unit runs $40–70/month in Tempe.
• Lock a closet — if your apartment has a closet you can secure, store valuables there and clearly communicate it's off-limits in the sublease agreement
• Take what matters — electronics, documents, irreplaceable items should go with you regardless

The Common Mistakes

Not getting landlord approval first. If your lease requires it and you skip this, your landlord can evict you (and your subtenant) with proper notice. Don't risk it.

Not collecting a security deposit. If your subtenant damages the apartment, you're on the hook to your landlord. Get a deposit that covers at least one month's rent.

Being vague about dates. Your sublease agreement should have an exact end date. Ambiguity creates conflict.

Not doing a move-in walkthrough. Document the condition of everything before you leave. Disputes about damage are much harder to resolve when there's no photographic evidence.

Subletting done right is one of the best financial moves an ASU student can make in the summer. You cover your rent (or close to it), someone gets a great short-term home near campus, and everyone walks away happy.