How to sublet your apartment at the University of Michigan
A step-by-step guide for UMich students subletting their Ann Arbor apartment — checking your lease, setting a price, finding a verified subletter, and getting paid safely.
6 min read · Updated July 3, 2026
First: check whether your lease even allows it
Before anything else, read your lease. Most Ann Arbor leases allow subletting but require written landlord approval, and some charge a small re-let fee. A few prohibit it outright. If you sublet against your lease and your landlord finds out, you can be on the hook — so get approval in writing first.
If your building is managed by one of the big campus property companies, there's usually a form. Email your leasing office, ask for the sublet policy, and keep the reply. That paper trail protects you later.
Set a price that actually fills the room
Summer sublets in Ann Arbor almost always go for less than the academic-year rate — students are competing for a smaller pool of renters, and most people only need May through August. Pricing at or slightly below what you pay is normal. Holding out for full rent usually means an empty room and you paying for it anyway.
Look at comparable live listings near you to anchor your number. A furnished room a short walk from the Diag commands more than an unfurnished room out in Pittsfield — location and furniture are the two biggest levers.
Write a listing people trust
Good photos do most of the work. Shoot in daylight, tidy up first, and include the actual room being sublet plus the kitchen, bathroom, and any shared space. Be honest about the number of roommates and the vibe — surprises are what cause sublets to fall apart halfway through.
- Real daylight photos of the actual space
- Exact dates available (and whether they flex)
- Rent, deposit, and what utilities are included
- How many roommates, and a sentence about them
- Distance to campus / which bus line
Vet your subletter — and get paid safely
The riskiest part of subletting is handing your place to (and collecting money from) someone you've never met. This is exactly why Wroomly verifies every user with an @umich.edu email: the person messaging you is a real U of M student with a name attached, not an anonymous account. Meet them, or at least do a video call, before anything is signed.
When money moves, keep it traceable. Collect rent and any deposit by a method with a paper trail, and never take payment by gift card, crypto, or a wire from an account you can't verify — those are the classic scam patterns. A real subletter will happily pay in a way that protects them too.
Put it in writing
Even a simple written sublease agreement — dates, rent, deposit terms, who pays utilities, condition of the place — saves enormous headaches. It protects both of you if something goes sideways, and most landlords want a copy anyway. Take timestamped move-in photos so the deposit return is a non-issue at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my landlord's permission to sublet in Ann Arbor?
Usually, yes. Most Ann Arbor leases allow subletting but require written landlord approval, and some charge a small re-let fee. A few prohibit it outright. Read your lease, email your leasing office for the sublet policy, and keep the written approval before you list your place.
How much should I charge for a summer sublet at UMich?
Price at or slightly below what you pay in rent. Summer sublets in Ann Arbor go for less than the academic-year rate because supply outstrips demand from May through August. Furnished rooms close to Central Campus hold their value best; holding out for full rent usually means an empty room.
How do I find a subletter I can trust?
Use a platform that verifies identity — every Wroomly account is confirmed with an @umich.edu email, so inquiries come from real U of M students. Meet or video-call before signing, put the agreement in writing, and only accept payment by a traceable method, never wire, gift card, or crypto.
Do I need a written sublease agreement?
Yes. Even a simple one-page agreement covering dates, rent, deposit terms, utilities, and the condition of the place protects both sides, and most landlords want a copy. Pair it with timestamped move-in photos so the deposit return is straightforward at the end.