Can a tenant sublet in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, a tenant at will or by sufferance, or a tenant with a term of less than two years, forfeits the tenancy to the landlord by assigning or transferring the term or any interest in the premises unless the landlord consents in writing. After giving the occupant ten days’ written notice to quit, the landlord may re-enter and take possession, or may recover possession from any occupant by a writ of forcible entry or detainer or other proper procedure. The lease can add its own conditions where the statute allows, so read the lease’s sublet clause together with this rule. This is KRS 383.180.

WhatKentucky
SublettingOnly with the landlord’s written consent
Kind of ruleThe landlord’s consent is required

Source

KRS 383.180

Read the statute in the Kentucky Revised Statutes (Kentucky General Assembly): apps.legislature.ky.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.

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