How to find a sublet in Boston

You never know when you will need to relocate suddenly. When life is predictable, a mortgage or a long lease can make sense.

Sometimes it’s much easier to look for short-term housing solutions like a sublet in Boston. Whatever your specific situation is currently, finding a short-term rental in Boston is much easier today.

First and foremost now you can use the internet and social media to facilitate the hunt.

And If you’re worried about getting into legal hot water, rest assured that most sublet arrangements in Boston are completely aboveboard.

However, if you will want to check the terms of the original rental agreement with the original tenant, this legal guide is also handy.

Ready to start your search?

Here are some of the top resources for finding a sublet in Boston.

Key things to look for in a Boston sublet

To begin with, depending on the setup of your sublet, you will want to ask the current tenant questions like:

• What do I need to do when I move in and out? Does the building have any special procedures?
• Is the rent all-inclusive, or will I need to pay for utilities?
• What are the public transportation options nearby?
• What are the best places to eat and drink in the neighborhood?
• Is the apartment pet-friendly? (If you have pets)
• Are there any rules in the building that I will need to follow?
• What kind of security deposit is required, and how will these funds be reimbursed?

Use these websites to start your search for a Boston sublet

Boston’s robust rental scene includes a healthy market for spotting good sublets. There are websites whose only purpose is helping renters find new, short-term rental apartments.

Fortunately, all of the sites are easy to use, both for prospective tenants and renters looking to get out of their leases early find new occupants.

Craigslist

This bare-bones website has been connecting renters with apartments for more than 20 years.

Craigslist may be a simple platform, but it’s still one of the easiest ways to find a Boston sublet. You’re likely to find sublets throughout Boston’s neighborhoods and surrounding towns. Craigslist ads provide all of the need-to-know information, including rent.

Often, this information is listed right in the title of each ad. When you use Craigslist to find a Boston sublet, you can call, text, or email your potential new landlord for more details. Just be sure to check the site often for new listings, as the market moves fast.

Sublet.com

This huge database of apartment listings has Boston sublets (as the name would suggest), as well as furnished apartments, people looking for new roommates, and vacation rentals.

All in all, potential renters can browse by city, or lease term, or just type in exactly what they’re looking for.

Unlike Craigslist, almost all of these listings include great photos.

SpareRoom

SpareRoom, yet another listing website matches people who want to sublet with people who are looking to move out early. Users need to register to view listings, but you can use your Facebook account instead of creating a new profile.

In addition to Boston sublets, there are ads for roommates…and every so often even entire apartments.

Look for a furnished apartment rental in Boston

Finding a Boston sublet is a common way to score a short-term rental in the city.

But in some cases, this may not be the best choice for you.

If you want to streamline your housing search, look for companies like Blueground that offer furnished apartment rentals for a month or longer.

Blueground’s team manages all of its furnished apartments in Boston so that the experience is seamless from move-in to move-out.

Blueground leases are completely flexible, so you can stay for as little as 30 days or for a year or longer, rather than committing to a six-month or 12-month lease.

The Blueground team individually furnishes each Boston short-term rental with custom furniture and high-tech extras like SmartTVs to elevate the experience.

Most Blueground apartments have in-unit laundry, making it even easier to feel right at home.

Find a Boston sublet using vacation rental sites

You’ve probably already used vacation rental sites like Airbnb if you travel frequently.

But did you know that you can find long-term housing on these sites, too?

You will find a more flexible selection of dates than on traditional apartment rental sites, though keep in mind that this means you will likely pay more as well.

Since the prices can be significantly higher on these platforms, they’re best if you’re looking for a Boston sublet for less than four months.

If you’re looking to move to town with a minimum of personal possessions, you’re in luck: most of the homes listed on vacation-rental portals are furnished.

Airbnb

Using Airbnb to find a Boston sublet isn’t any more difficult than booking a vacation rental for your next getaway. You will need to create an account to send messages to your potential new landlord.

After you’re registered you only need to type in the dates of your stay to see apartment options with prices listed by the month instead of by night.

Keep in mind that many of Airbnb’s rentals are rooms in shared apartments or houses. (If you want private space, you may want to consider a flexible furnished apartment in Boston from a provider like Blueground.)

VRBO

Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO) is a lot like Airbnb.

Many owners who are looking for a little extra income tend to list their homes online. The site lists more standalone homes than individual apartments, so don’t expect to find many shared Boston apartments or someone looking to recruit a new housemate here.

VRBO is a lot like Airbnb in terms of facilitating short-term rentals.

In this case, you won’t find as many properties that are available for an entire month or even longer. VRBO requires users to create an account, but you can use a variety of social media accounts to register, saving yourself a little time.

Use a student portal to find a Boston sublet

Many universities in the Boston area have password-protected off-campus housing sites for students. Check with your school for a list of resources.

If you want to look beyond what your college or university offers, you can use the Boston ULoop housing site.

There’s an entire section dedicated to sublets where you can find Craigslist-style ads that include photos, rental details, and contact info. (Like on Craigslist, almost all of the ads have email addresses or phone numbers so that you don’t need to register to use ULoop.)

Since school semesters are fixed, seasonality is another big factor to consider.

However, you may still find your perfect match right away.

Also, Blueground has studios and one-bedroom apartments in Boston that are perfect for students.

Use Facebook to find an apartment in Boston

Love it or hate it, Facebook is a great way to find short-term housing in Boston. The easiest place to start is Facebook Marketplace, where you will find apartment listings from Boston renters and property owners.

Also, use Facebook Messenger to correspond with potential new landlords. This will help you find out everything you need to know about various Boston apartments.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for a short lease, type sublet into the search box to filter our year-long rentals.