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Are you sure about that? It looks to me like they check the current lease for subletting stipulations. It’s literally the first step under “Sublet your place” on the website.

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This is correct. Also NYC leases are pretty standard, and NYC laws are tenant friendly at least as far as subletting goes.

This is not correct for the current context. You are thinking about subleasing today. Yes, this is now friendly. The scenario for OP was handing over the entire lease in NYC in 2019. At the time, this was entirely up to the landlord's discretion, and you were legally on the hook for the full amount. Landlords were not required to find a new tenant. See explanations here -> https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/tenants-right-break-...

That is not what this link says. The landlord is legally required to mitigate damages - it says so clearly in the text. That means that they must try to find another tenant. If you hand the landlord applications from several qualified tenants, and they don’t rent to them, then you can successfully win in court if the landlord tries to sue you for unpaid rent. New York housing court is known to be very tenant-friendly as well.

Now, in the midst of a COVID-fueled exodus and wave of unemployment, you might legit be screwed…

(Source: former NYC landlord here)

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