A sublease is a legal agreement between the original tenant of a rental and an interim tenant that will take his or her place. Though the new tenant (known as the Sublessee) will reside and pay rent just like the original tenant (the Sublessor), the landlord must give written permission for this exchange to take place. Although the landlord will be aware of the interim tenant, the original tenant’s name will remain on the lease. Should anything unfortunate happen to the rental property while the sublease agreement is in effect, the Sublessor will be held responsible. Furthermore, if a Sublessee wishes to remain in the rental after the Sublessor’s lease term ends, it is the sole discretion of the landlord to decide whether or not the Sublessee may continue to rent the property, as the landlord holds no obligation to the Sublessee.
Due to the vagueness of Oklahoma’s laws on subletting, tenants must submit to the terms of their lease. If their lease does not allow subleasing, then there is nothing that can be done, as they signed the agreement. If the landlord provides a sublease provision, the tenant should ensure that they receive written permission.