Simple guide for how to secure a Seattle sublet

Fortunately, there are loads of great options in Seattle— the trick is just knowing where to look. Keep reading for a functional and comprehensive guide to tracking down a prime Seattle sublet to call home.

1. Understand what you’re looking for

Subletting a property is a bit different than flat-out renting. It usually refers to an agreement between tenants, where the original tenant makes an agreement with a subletter (in this case, that would be you), and is therefore responsible for the renter and how they treat the apartment. The original tenant is sometimes referred to as the sublessor and you would then be the sublessee. As a subletter, there is usually no interaction between you and the landlord.

Though you’re likely choosing to sublet your space in Seattle because you’re not in town long enough to commit to a lease, the same general apartment-hunting principles still apply. When deciding where to live, it’s important to consider the following:

Neighborhood

What part of the city will you be working or studying in?

That’s where you should look for your Seattle sublet.

Do you want to live right above a 24-hour pizza joint, or would you prefer something quieter and family-friendly? How important is it for you to live near a public green space, school, or grocery store?

Transportation access 

Seattle traffic gets pretty hectic at rush hour.

But there are plenty of conveniently-positioned alternatives you can use, such as the Link Light Rail, or one of the many bike paths snaking into and out of the city. 

Your budget 

A no-brainer, but still needs to be mentioned. Crunch some numbers and figure out what you can— and are willing to— realistically spend each month on rent (as well as utilities, food, transport, and entertainment) for your Seattle sublet. 

Type of housing 

Are you the kind that craves solitude, or are you looking for a housemate (or five)? Do you absolutely have to have your own ensuite bathroom?

This will determine what sort of Seattle sublet arrangement you should filter for.

Make sure to identify your distinctive housing and living needs before you set out on your sublet search. This will save you from wasting time on incompatible living situations and help you to pursue places that are truly a good fit.

What about the time commitment?

Most rentals are by the year, but Blueground short-term rental apartments are a great way to introduce some flexibility into your housing search if you’re looking for a home for a shorter time period.

2. Scan social media

Believe it or not, Facebook is good for more than just mindless scrolling. Social media can be a fantastic tool for finding sublets in Seattle by connecting you directly and immediately with individuals looking to sublet their apartments, home, duplex, etc.

Finding one can be as simple as typing “Seattle sublet” into a Facebook search, then hunting through the results.

Many Facebook groups will require you to join before being able to access listings or contact other members.

But it shouldn’t take more than a few days for your request to be approved. You’ll want to join groups that have the largest number of members since that’s where you’re likely to find more listings. 

You can also search the Facebook Marketplace under “rentals” for an even wider variety of listings.

Happy searching! 

3. Look for roommates

Depending on your personal preferences, you may be considering living with roommates when you move to Seattle, which may lower your cost of rent or just help you to meet new people.

All in all, there are plenty of websites that cater to the housemate hunt, such as Roommates and Spareroom. If you’re a student or plan to be in and around the University of Washington district, ULoop Housing offers a selection of listings close to campus.

When looking into shared spaces, don’t be afraid to ask specific questions to your potential new housemate(s).

After all, this could become your home!  Some good questions to ask are:

• What is their work or study schedule? 
• What are their hobbies, both inside and outside of the household? (If your roommate plays the drums, you’ll want to know before moving in) 
• Are they neat freaks— and is there a household cleaning schedule?  
• How often do they have guests over? 

Make sure to establish an understanding between you and your roommate(s) from the start, and it will pay off tenfold in fostering a positive and comfortable living arrangement in the future.

4. Browse online listings

There is a plethora of web pages for rentals and sublets specifically in Seattle. It’s easy to get bogged down, so a good place to start is always Craigslist.

Though this well-known listing site often gets a bad rap, it can be a gold mine for housing. You can even narrow down your search to “sublets & temporary” in order to maximize your chances of finding an ideal fit.

Remember that Craigslist listings are not moderated, so always contact references and never visit a listed property alone.

Other relatively navigable, moderated sites include Roomster Seattle and Sublet.com, where you can also specify your desired length of stay.

5. Consider furnished rentals

Sometimes finding a sublet is just more hassle than it’s worth. If you want to cut back your browsing time and streamline your search, you may want to go with a furnished rental during your time in Seattle.

Step into this sleek & contemporary 1-bedroom apartment in NYC’s East Village.

In this case, Blueground is an excellent option, offering aesthetically-pleasing properties in the city’s best neighborhoods.

Coupled with an exceedingly easy online booking process and flexible lease terms, moving has never been more straightforward (or looked so stylish).

With Blueground, you can even change apartments month to month and explore various neighborhoods during your stay in the Pacific Northwest.

Also, tenants can make use of the Blueground Guest App to take advantage of amenities typical of a furnished apartment like maintenance requests, laundry on-demand, and weekly cleaning.

Another option is Furnished Finder, a platform that connects tenants (specifically traveling nurses, although other professionals are certainly included in their clientele) looking for furnished housing for a minimum of 30 days.

If established, the lease agreement is made outside of the Furnished Finder platform, directly between landlord and tenant. 

6. Protect yourself and ask questions

Regardless of which arrangement you end up choosing, take care to read the fine print. You may not be looking for your forever home, but you want your Seattle to stay to be pleasant, comfortable, and productive, regardless of the length of stay.

When subletting or renting a furnished space, make sure you understand what your obligations and expectations are regarding utilities, security deposit, and obligatory length commitment.

With an extensive and diverse array of short and mid-length housing options in Seattle, you will find plenty of suitable properties to fit your needs.

Remember to establish boundaries, decide what you’re willing to be flexible on, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and negotiate.

Loving where you live will only enhance your satisfaction with this breathtaking city!