however, subletting commercial space is somewhat of a gamble, particularly for the sublessor. this determination often comes-down to three factors: rules regarding commercial subletting can vary state-by-state, and even county-by-county. after reviewing the local ordinances, you’ll need to revisit the terms and conditions of your original commercial lease. perhaps the first step to a successful sublease arrangement is to ensure you understand the current limitations and responsibilities under your original lease agreement. for sublessors, it’s imperative to understand that the actions of your sublessee are your responsibility, not the landlord’s. in other words, the lease agreement between you and your landlord is a legally-binding contract, whereas the written agreement between you and your sublessee is not.

when you sublease your space you are the sublessor (or sublandlord) and your new tenant is the sublessee (or subtenant). usually, landlords will allow you to sublease your space but there are a few instances when there are restrictions. when you need to downsize, you can either sublease part of your space or your entire space. on the other hand, if you want to vacate the space completely and look for new space or simply no longer require an office space, you might choose to sublease your entire space.