Though some businesses have tightened security in the midst of new terrorist threats, summer subleasing poses no major concerns for local rental companies or their tenants.

Despite increased safety measures in the aftermath of Sept. 11, there are no new regulations for tenants who sublease their properties, said Steve Gladman, executive director of the Columbus Apartment Association.

Tenants who choose to sublet illegally, or without intervention from the rental company, should be sure there are no surprises before doing so, Gladman said.

“I think what the person with the original lease needs to understand is the financial responsibility,” Gladman said. “If subleasing is allowed, there are certain prohibitions.”

Most rental companies indicate whether subleasing is permitted, along with any rules, in the original lease. By arranging a sublease with the rental company, property owners also know who will occupy the residence and may conduct a background check on the new tenant.

“The same screening requirements are in place for the sublessor (as for the original),” Gladman said.

Buckeye Real Estate assists tenants who want to sublease their property in cooperation with the owner. Tenants fill out legal forms and help the company show the property to potential subleasees, said Bill Graver, vice president of Buckeye Real Estate.

One of Buckeye Real Estate’s subleasing rules is that all tenants in a multi-bedroom unit must agree on the terms of the sublease, Graver said.

“A lot of the subletting procedure is left up to the individual resident,” Graver said.

Some tenants choose to sublease without the security of a rental company’s paperwork.

“They’re taking risks on their own. If something would happen, they don’t have a legal right to be there,” Graver said.

Subleasing through the rental company allows for consistency and avoids problems, including unpaid rent, property damage and roommate conflicts, said Kathy Wise, director of the Student Housing Legal Clinic.

“Sometimes we run into problems with tenants who have not gotten prior approval,” Wise said. “The best thing is to make sure they’re checking in with the landlord first. A lot of it is to use common sense.”

Tenants who sublease to strangers may meet and interview the sublessor, ask for references and call previous landlords as a safeguard.

In respect to the attacks of Sept. 11, tenants and sublessors should keep safety and civil rights in mind when consulting rental companies about a lease, Wise said. The Fair Housing Act, amended by the U.S. Congress in 1988, prohibits landlords from discriminating against potential renters, regardless of race, ethnicity or national origin.

Sublessors should also be suspicious of outstanding fees that may accompany an agreement made with the rental company.

Sandy Price, a junior in nursing, is subleasing the fully furnished, four-bedroom apartment she shares with roommates. Though property owner Oxford Realty gave them a sublease form, they chose to find summer tenants on their own, Price said.

“We usually ask for a security deposit,” Price said.

This way, if property damage is found when the sublessor moves out, they can be held somewhat accountable, she said. Price has few concerns, however. She knows who’s responsible if something goes wrong in the unofficial agreement.

“It would all come back on us because we’re on the original lease,” Price said.