Sublease Agreement Template
A sublease agreement lets a current tenant ("sublessor") rent out all or part of their leased premises to a new occupant ("sublessee") — typically with the head landlord's written consent. Use our free Australian template to document a residential or commercial sublease that respects the head lease, the state Residential Tenancies Act or Retail Leases Act, and the rights of each party.
LANDLORD CONSENT (where required)
I, the undersigned landlord, hereby consent to the above sublease of the Premises pursuant to the Head Lease, in accordance with the applicable state residential tenancy legislation.
Landlord Signature: __________________________ Printed Name: Doncaster Property Management Pty Ltd Date: __________________________
What Is a Sublease?
A sublease is a lease created out of an existing head lease. The head tenant (the sublessor) grants a lesser interest in the premises — usually for a shorter term and often for a specific part of the premises — to a sublessee, while retaining their own obligations to the head landlord. Unlike an assignment of lease, where the outgoing tenant transfers all their rights to the incoming tenant, a sublease creates a fresh tenancy with the sublessor as landlord.
In Australia, subleases are governed by the general law of real property and contract, together with the state residential or commercial leases regime depending on the premises. For residential premises, state Residential Tenancies Acts (NSW 2010, Vic 1997, Qld 2008, SA 1995, WA 1987, Tas 1997, ACT 1997, NT 1999) regulate subletting — typically requiring the head landlord's written consent, which cannot be unreasonably withheld. For commercial premises, the Retail Leases Acts and the lease itself govern sublet consent.
Across Australia, subleases are common in two contexts: (1) residential share arrangements where the lead tenant on the head lease sublets rooms to flatmates, and (2) commercial arrangements where part of the leased premises is not needed and is sublet to a third party. Failing to obtain Australian landlord consent where required is a breach of the head lease and can result in termination of both the head lease and the sublease.
What's Covered in This Template
Our sublease template covers all the essential terms for a compliant sublet.
Head Lease Reference
Date, parties, and premises of the underlying head lease.
Sublessor and Sublessee Details
Legal names and addresses of the head tenant and subtenant.
Head Landlord Consent
Reference to written consent from the head landlord.
Subleased Premises
Whole or part of the head lease premises being sublet.
Sublease Term
Commencement, end date, and relation to the head lease term.
Sublease Rent
Rent payable by sublessee to sublessor, frequency, and method.
Bond (Residential)
Bond amount (within state cap) and lodgement details.
Utilities and Shared Spaces
Which utilities and shared areas are included.
Compliance with Head Lease
Sublessee's obligation to observe terms of the head lease.
Condition Report
Condition of subleased premises at commencement.
Termination Provisions
Notice periods, and dependence on head lease continuing.
Governing Law
Choice of Australian state law governing the sublease.
How to Create a Sublease Agreement
Follow these steps to document a compliant sublease in minutes.
- 1
Obtain Head Landlord Consent
Secure written consent from the head landlord, referencing the head lease clause on subletting.
- 2
Enter Party and Premises Details
Record sublessor, sublessee, and the portion of the premises sublet.
- 3
Set Term and Rent
Specify the sublease term (within the head lease) and rent.
- 4
Include Bond and Conditions
Add bond details, utilities, shared spaces, and compliance with head lease.
- 5
Sign and Lodge Bond
Both parties sign, and the sublessor lodges any residential bond with the state bond authority.
Legal Considerations
Subleases must respect the head lease and state residential/commercial leases legislation.
This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For commercial subleases or complex residential arrangements, obtain legal advice.
Reviewed for Australian law
Head Landlord Consent
In Australia, the head lease almost always restricts subletting. Under Australian state Property Law Acts and common law, the head landlord's consent cannot be unreasonably withheld for assignment, and the same principle applies to subletting in many Australian leases. Section 133B of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) and equivalent provisions in other states reinforce this. Proceeding without consent is a breach.
Residential Subletting Rules
Most Australian state Residential Tenancies Acts permit subletting with the landlord's written consent — section 74 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), section 81 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), section 238 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (Qld). Under Australian law, consent cannot be unreasonably withheld. The sublessor remains liable under the head lease.
Commercial and Retail Subleases
Subletting commercial premises in Australia generally requires landlord consent under the head lease. Australian Retail Leases Acts (e.g., section 39 of the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW)) impose specific processes and documents for consent decisions, including timeframes and grounds for refusal. Unreasonable refusal or delay can be challenged at the relevant Australian state tribunal.
Bond and Security
In an Australian residential sublease, the sublessor (as landlord for the sublease) can take a bond within the state cap (usually 4 weeks' rent) and must lodge it with the state bond authority. Bonds held by flatmates without lodgement are a common source of disputes — lodging correctly protects both parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
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