Most Waterloo co-op students keep their apartment and sublet it while away. Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) generally lets tenants sublet with landlord consent — and landlords cannot usually unreasonably refuse. The process is paperwork and timing, not permission from your employer.
Step 1: Check your lease
Read the sublet clause before you post anything. Many Waterloo leases require written notice 60 or 90 days before a sublet. Missing that window can give your landlord a reason to push back even when consent would otherwise be reasonable.
Step 2: Get landlord consent in writing
You need written consent before your subletter moves in. A verbal "sure, no problem" is not enough if a dispute comes up later. Use a consent letter that names the subletter, dates, and rent amount. Our consent letter generator produces a sample you can adapt — not legal advice, but a starting point for the conversation.
Step 3: Sign a sublet agreement
You remain the primary tenant on the lease. A sublet agreement between you and the person moving in should cover rent, utilities, key handoff, and what happens if something breaks. Without one, deposit and damage disputes get messy fast.
Step 4: Post your listing early
Winter co-op sublets (January–April) see peak demand in Waterloo. Students who post 8–10 weeks before move-in usually fill faster and avoid panic pricing. Use our co-op timeline tool to map your personal deadlines from your work-term start date.
Sublet vs. assignment
A sublet means you plan to return — you stay on the lease. An assignment transfers the lease to someone else permanently. They are different under the RTA and your lease may treat them differently. If you are unsure which applies, use our roommate vs. sublet quiz before signing anything.
Renting someone else's sublet?
If you are the person moving in, ask for proof of landlord consent and a written sublet agreement before you pay. Our subletter protection guide lists what to get in writing — and our listing analyzer can flag caution signals in the ad or chat thread.