Every year, thousands of business and engineering students spend 4 to 6 months abroad as part of a university exchange program or a capstone internship. The dilemma is always the same: keep your apartment and continue paying rent for an empty place, or terminate your lease and have to start all over again—finding a new apartment, furniture, and neighborhood—when you return. There is a third option, one that’s too often overlooked: legal subletting.
The True Cost of Keeping an Apartment Vacant
Let’s take a concrete example: a student rents a furnished one-bedroom apartment for €750/month in downtown Lyon. If they go on a 5-month academic exchange without subletting, that’s €3,750 in rent spent on an unoccupied apartment —not to mention utilities, home insurance, and a standing electricity bill. Conversely, a well-managed sublease can cover all or part of that rent, or even generate additional income depending on the agreed-upon amount.
Why Students Are Reluctant to Sublet
Three obstacles come up time and time again:
- Fear of administrative procedures —writing to the landlord, drafting a lease, handling the legal aspects
- A lack of time, especially in the weeks leading up to an already hectic departure (visa procedures, finding housing once there, exams)
- The difficulty of finding a reliable subtenant from abroad after you’ve left, or at the last minute right before you leave
That’s exactly what professional assistance takes care of: you don’t have to approach your landlord on your own, post a listing and screen applicants, or handle a potential dispute from a distance.
The Ideal Schedule for Planning Ahead
The academic mobility windows are predictable, which allows for ample advance planning:
- September Start Dates (Fall Semester, Back-to-School Internships): Start the application process as early as June or July
- January Start Dates (Spring Semester, Six-Month Internships): Start as Early as October–November
Planning 2–3 months in advance allows you to find a reliable subletter without giving in to last-minute pressure, which often leads to accepting a less reliable candidate.
What to Check Before Subletting
- Your landlord's consent, obtained in writing
- The subtenant's profile: financial stability, status (international student, intern), references if possible
- The move-in and move-out inspections, documented with photos or electronically, to avoid any disputes upon return regarding possible damage
- The subtenant's home insurance —always require it
A turnkey solution so you don't have to worry about it during your exchange
At Swwitch, we help hundreds of students with this process every year: from reaching an agreement with the landlord to returning the apartment upon your return, including the selection of a verified subtenant (often an international exchange student in Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux, or another major college town). You can leave with complete peace of mind, without losing any rent and without having to handle any paperwork from abroad.
Are you leaving soon for an exchange program or internship? Contact Swwitch now to start planning your sublease.
