USTU Subletting Policy Proposal
Approved by consensus on 9/18/17
Sublet duration
- Members can sublet for up to two years combined out of a five year period.
- If member does not return, subletter will leave on the date specified in the original sublet contract signed before move-in.
- Any intention to extend a sublet beyond the original agreement must be brought back to community for consensus.
To be included in orientation checklist
- Re-cap co-op rules and make clear that any guests they have must also follow these rules.
Compost - How to access the community calendar, the online calendar, and the wiki
- Participation: Subletters beyond two weeks are expected to follow the same participation requirements as members.
To be included in Sublet Rental Agreement Contract
- Subletter must sign off on co-op rules
- Cost of rent
- Cost of deposit
- Anyone who is not signed onto the original Sublet Rental Agreement contract must be brought to community for approval before move in.
- Subletter cannot sublet.
- Reserved member parking spaces are not guaranteed to subletters.
- Duration of stay. Subletter will move out on date stated in contract. Any request for an extension must be brought to community for approval and a new contract must be signed.
Less than 2 weeks
- Announce via email prior to subtenant’s arrival.
- Subletter submits photo so we can recognize them.
- Member pays rent to manager
- Member orients subtenant or gets someone to orient them
- Give subletters contact info to managers
2 weeks - 3 months
- Announcement in meeting prior to subtenant’s arrival. Terms and conditions of rent + deposit (if any) must be made transparent in meeting and held by managers.
- Subletter submits visitor questionnaire with photo so we can recognize them.
- Subletter introduces themselves once they arrive.
- Subletter is expected to participate in at least two of the following three activities:
- At least one meeting per month
- At least one community dinner per month
- At least one work party per month
- Member makes sure subletter gets oriented and designates a “buddy” who can answer any questions
- Give subletters contact info to managers.
- Subletter pays managers rent directly. See section on rent for more details.
3 months - 1 year
- Announce leave of absence. Consensus decision required on sublet. Terms and conditions of rent + deposit (if any) must be made transparent in meeting and held by managers. Decision is made in closed session without requester.
- Subletter submits visitor questionnaire with photo so we can recognize them.
- Subletter submits letter of reference from previous landlord OR credit check.
- Subletter has to introduce themselves in a meeting prior to arrival
- Subletter is expected to participate in at least two of the following three activities:
- At least one meeting per month
- At least one community dinner per month
- At least one work party per month
- Member makes sure subletter gets oriented and designates a “buddy” who can answer any questions.
- Give subletters contact info to managers
- Subletter pays managers rent directly. See section on rent for more details.
Rent
- Less than two weeks, member pays managers rent as usual. Beyond two weeks, subletter pays managers their rent directly.
- Rent charged cannot exceed that of regular rent paid, but subletter is not eligible for the no-car discount.
- Member is ultimately responsible for making sure rent is paid
- Members may choose to charge subletter less if there is a work arrangement (e.g. cat sitting), but members must make sure that the full rent is paid by paying the difference to the managers directly or through the subletter.
- Member may negotiate a deposit with subletter if they so choose.
- Terms and conditions of rent and deposit (if any) will be made transparent in member’s announcement of sublet.