Office Subleasing
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The process

How subleasing works.

Four steps from the tenant’s side. If you are the one looking for space, the same steps happen on your side of the table.

Not legal adviceUpdated October 7, 2026

Information on this site is general. It is not legal advice. Read your own lease and speak to a lawyer before you sign a sublease.

Who is involved

The three parties to a subleaseThe landlord leases the space to the tenant under the master lease. The tenant subleases some or all of it to the subtenant. The subtenant pays rent to the tenant, and the tenant keeps paying rent to the landlord.LandlordOwns the buildingTenantThe sublessorSubtenantThe new occupantMaster leaseSubleaseRentRent
The new occupant, the subtenant, pays rent to the existing tenant. The existing tenant keeps its own lease with the landlord, which is called the master lease.
1

Check your lease

Find the clause on subletting. It tells you whether the landlord has to consent, what they can ask to see, and any conditions they attached.

2

Define the space and the term

Decide which rooms or how much floor you can give up, whether the furniture stays, and for how long. The sublease has to end on or before the date your own lease does.

3

Find and vet the subtenant

Meet the company that wants the space. Check that they can pay. Agree the rent, the deposit, and who covers utilities, parking and repairs.

Questions.

What is an office sublease?

A sublease is a lease between a company that already leases an office and a new occupant who takes some or all of that space. The new occupant, the subtenant, pays rent to the existing tenant. The existing tenant keeps its own lease with the landlord, which is called the master lease.

Do I need my landlord’s permission to sublease?

Usually, yes. Most commercial leases require the landlord’s consent before you sublease. In California, if your lease requires consent but does not say what standard the landlord has to apply, the law reads in a rule that consent may not be unreasonably withheld (Civil Code section 1995.260). Your lease may set its own standard or conditions. Check your own lease carefully and get legal advice before you rely on this.

Am I still responsible for my lease if I sublease?

Yes. The master lease stays in force. You remain responsible to the landlord for the rent and every other obligation in it, even if your subtenant stops paying you. The sublease is a separate agreement between you and the subtenant.

How long can a sublease run?

As long as you and the subtenant agree, up to the end of the master lease. A sublease cannot run past that date, because the original tenant cannot grant rights to the space for longer than it holds them.

Is a sublease cheaper than a direct lease or coworking?

Often, though not always. A tenant with surplus space would usually rather recover part of its rent than none of it, so sublease rents are often set below comparable direct space. Compared with flexible and coworking space, a sublease gives you a private office of your own on a set term. The actual price depends on the space and the deal.

What areas do you cover?

Orange County, California. Irvine comes first, including the Irvine Business Complex near John Wayne Airport and Irvine Spectrum. We also cover Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim, Orange and Lake Forest. If your space or your search is somewhere else in the county, send an inquiry anyway.

Who will contact me?

A licensed real estate broker. Inquiries about California property go to a licensed California broker; inquiries about property in other states are referred to a broker licensed in that state. Office Subleasing itself is a marketing service and does not negotiate leases.

Is there a cost to inquire?

No. Inquiries are free and there is no obligation.