How do I find someone to take over my lease in NYC?

Four steps. First, read your lease and ask your landlord how they handle assignments: under NY Real Property Law §226-b(1), an assignment requires the landlord's written consent, which the landlord may withhold without cause regardless of building size (unless the lease itself grants a greater right to assign); this does not apply to public housing, other units with constitutional or statutory admission criteria, or co-op proprietary leases. Second, list the apartment where renters who want it are already looking: Buzzedin matches it, for free, with renters whose saved searches fit. Third, pick a replacement and introduce them to your landlord with their application, since a strong applicant is what gets an assignment approved. Fourth, get the release in writing before you move out. Landlord consent to an assignment does not by itself end the original tenant's liability; a signed written release does.

How is a lease takeover different from breaking a lease?

Breaking a lease usually means paying 1–2 months of rent as a penalty, losing your deposit, or owing the landlord until the unit is re-rented. A lease takeover replaces you with a matched renter, so the apartment is never empty. With the landlord's consent plus a signed written release, your obligation under the lease ends.

How much does Buzzedin cost?

Free. We don't take percentage cuts, listing fees, or commissions. Our business is alerts for renters, not cuts on takeovers.

Where does my apartment get listed?

We don't post it to StreetEasy or social media. Your listing reaches renters two ways: it's matched against the saved searches of renters in our network whose criteria fit your apartment, and once we approve it, it shows on our public takeover map at buzzedin.com/map so anyone searching for takeovers can find it. You stay in control of who you reply to.

How fast can I find a replacement tenant?

It depends on the apartment, the rent, and how far ahead of your move-out you list. The earlier you list, the more matched renters see it before they've signed elsewhere. Listing 2–8 weeks ahead of move-out gives you the widest pool.

What if my landlord won’t allow a lease assignment?

Under NY Real Property Law §226-b(1), the landlord requires the landlord's written consent, which the landlord may withhold without cause regardless of building size (unless the lease itself grants a greater right to assign); this does not apply to public housing, other units with constitutional or statutory admission criteria, or co-op proprietary leases. If consent is unreasonably withheld, the tenant's remedy is a release from the lease on 30 days notice, not a right to assign (New York Real Property Law Section 226-b(1)). The "cannot unreasonably withhold consent" rule that people often quote applies to subletting (§226-b(2)), not assignment. We'll give you a template letter as a starting point; review it with a New York tenant attorney before sending.

Do I need to show the apartment myself?

No. Renters in our network already have saved searches matching your apartment, so they reach out only when it’s a fit, and they share their move-in window when they message you. You decide who to meet or video-call.

What information do I need to list?

The basics (address, rent, bedrooms, lease end date, and a few photos), plus a handful of quick questions about the apartment (laundry, pets, what you'll miss most) and how to reach you. Most people finish in under 10 minutes, and you can save and come back if you don't have everything yet.

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NYC lease takeover · No fees

Find someone to take over your NYC lease.

Moving out before your lease ends? We match your apartment with NYC renters already searching. Skip overlap rent and the showings.

What’s the address of the place you’re leaving?

Free · Listed privately · You choose who to reply to

Updated October 20, 2026

How it works

Three steps. Zero showings.

Most NYC tenants finish the listing in about 10 minutes, and the sooner you list, the more matched renters see it before they’ve signed elsewhere.

01
Tell us about your apartment
Address, rent, lease end date, a few photos, and some quick details. Takes about 10 minutes.
02
We match you with interested renters
We match your apartment to renters whose saved searches already fit, and show approved listings on our public takeover map. We won't post it to StreetEasy or social media.
03
Send the request to your landlord
Once you pick a renter, we send you a template assignment letter to review and send to your landlord. Most approve within a week.

Why list with Buzzedin

The clean way to break a lease.

No overlap rent
Hand off your apartment the day your new place starts. Most NYC tenants save $3,200–$5,800 in overlap rent.
Free to list
We take 0%. No commissions, no listing fees, no surprises. Our business is alerts for renters, not cuts on takeovers.
No showing parade
Renters in our network already know what they're looking for. They reach out only when your apartment fits their saved search.
Cleaner closeout
A clean assignment ends your tenancy on the assignment date, with no "re-rental" deductions tied to a vacant unit.

Answers

Lease takeover, explained.

A lease takeover is when a new tenant takes over the remaining months on your lease, usually with the landlord's consent through a lease assignment. If approved, the new tenant becomes responsible for the rent going forward, and you avoid paying overlap rent or a break fee. Landlord consent to an assignment does not by itself end the original tenant's liability; a signed written release does. NY Real Property Law §226-b governs assignment and sublet requests in NYC, but the specifics depend on your lease and your landlord's response, so we recommend reviewing the request with an attorney before sending.

Read the full lease takeover guide →Breaking your lease instead? Your options and costs →Looking to take over a lease? Browse active takeovers →

Ready to hand it off?

Listing takes about 10 minutes, and we match you with renters whose saved searches already fit your apartment.

List your apartment

Free · Listed privately · You choose who to reply to

Find someone to take over your NYC lease.

Three steps. Zero showings.

Tell us about your apartment

We match you with interested renters

Send the request to your landlord

The clean way to break a lease.

No overlap rent

Free to list

No showing parade

Cleaner closeout