Chicagoans! Help! I need to sublet my apartment!

[kristalsnow7]

OK, I'm getting a little desperate here! DBF and I have bought a house together and will be moving in on Halloween. We are absolutely thrilled about that, but I'm having a lot of trouble trying to sublet my apartment. I just spoke to my landlady this morning, and she won't let me break the lease. I can't imagine having to pay a mortgage payment AND rent on my old place, so I'm reaching out to any and all who will listen. :o If you or anyone you know is looking for an apartment for November 1, please please please feel free to PM me!

Here are the details:

One bedroom apartment, approximately 900 sq feet, located in Ravenswood/ Lincoln Square. It's only a 1 minute walk to the Brown Line, and about a 30 second walk to 2 major bus lines. The neighborhood is great: lots of new restaurants and shops, and if Starbucks is your thing, there is one just down the street. It's a few blocks from Welles Park and Lincoln Avenue. In fact, we like the neighborhood so much that we bought our house just a few blocks away! The apartment is very sunny, and has all hardwood floors and a newly rehabbed kitchen with 1 year old cabinets, appliances and dishwasher. Good closet space. Oh, and it looks out onto a lovely courtyard that is filled with wildflowers and butterflies in the late summer. A great place to sit and have a cup of coffee in the morning. They don't rent to smokers or people who have dogs. But, they will accept cats with an additional security deposit. The lease would end April 30, at which point you could renew. Please let me know if you're interested.

And, if you're not interested, please wish me luck. I need it! :rolleyes:

[funnybone]

I've never been in your situation, but have you placed an ad in the paper or even one in the local grocery store (they all seem to have BB that people post things up on). I'd be surprised if no one needs an apt.

Could you afford to sublet for less than the cost of the lease, if necessary? It would cost you some, but it would be better than paying for the entire lease until April. It could be an incentive if someone is interested. Good Luck.

[kristalsnow7]

I'm lucky to work at the Reader, and I've been placing ads there for the past four weeks. But I've only received 2 calls, which is a little surprising to me. I can't stomache paying six month's rent, so I'm completely willing to negotiate on the price. I guess I will just hope for the best. Thanks for your well wishes, Funnybone!

[Canice]

Wish I could help! The apartment sounds wonderful (and I love Chicago). I know this is much bigger in the Bay Area than elsewhere, but have posted on craigslist?

[kristalsnow7]

Canice,

Thanks for the suggestion about craigslist! I forgot about that one. I will place an ad today. :)

[sunberst]

ack! dbf & i were looking to move downtown, and the apartment you described is my dream apartment! must haves for me are hardwood floors & LOTS of sunshine!

unfortunately, we just got into a rental agreement here in the burbs.

i have such bad luck! :( i am seriously really upset over this.

i will ask around & see if anyone is interested?

what is the rent by the way? (if you dont want to post that, you can PM me)

[kristalsnow7]

Ack is right! Beth, I would have loved to have you sublet my place!! :) I will PM you with the price.

[mlr73]

Is your landlord doing anything to help you with the subleasing? Check your lease. I think that the landlord is supposed to actively do its part in the subleasing search. I don't think it is all up to you to find a sublet, even though you should do your part as well. I live just north of Chicago, so my lease may be a little different than yours. But, check it out and if your lease states that they are supposed to help, make them help if they're not. I'd just read through the lease and make sure there isn't anything in there that would allow you to break the lease (LL didn't fix things, etc.). It can't hurt to check (unless you already have).

Good luck with finding a sublet!

[kgraham]

I am not familiar with the laws in Illinois, but in California a landlord is legally obligated to make an effort to re-rent a unit when a tenant breaks a lease. The tenant is only on the hook for rent payments until the unit is re-rented.

What I’m trying to say is, if the laws in your state are the same, when you vacate the unit and turn in your keys your landlady will have to work to re-rent the place and you will only owe her rent until she finds a new tenant. Of course, I understand its in your best interest to find someone sooner rather than later and she might not work quite as hard at it as you will. Good luck!

[erinl]

When I sublet my apartment (Lakeview area) a few years ago, I posted an ad on Yahoo. I found someone w/in a week or so. Good luck!

[kristalsnow7]

Off to Yahoo I go. Thanks Erin!

I will try to check out the laws, too, but at this point I certainly don't mind doing all I can to sublet the place. Like you said, kgraham, the landlord probably won't be as motivated as I am, so I'm happy to place all the ads I need to.

Thanks to all for you help, ideas, suggestions. :)

[LauraBL]

Kristal-

Why don't you look up all the Chicago supper clubs and e-mail the club or any members? One of the addresses is chicagocooks@yahoo.com
It's kind of a spammy thing to do but you never know what might turn up. Good luck that just so sucks that your landlady is such a battleaxe.

Laura

[kristalsnow7]

Good news, everyone: I think I found a subletter last night!! He submitted an application last night, and as long as the credit check turns out, we are set to go. I am sooooo relieved.

Thanks so much for all of your support---I really appreciate it! :)