Launching in Melbourne

Don't sublet.
Subby it.

Going away for a few weeks or months? Let a verified subber look after your place and cover your rent. Need somewhere for a while? Find a furnished room without a 12-month lease.

Free to list. Verified people. Money held safely until move-in.

subby
/ˈsʌb.i/ · verb & noun
  1. verb. To let someone stay in your place while you're away. "I'm off to Lisbon for six weeks, so I'm subbying my room."
  2. noun. A place you stay for a few weeks or months. "Found the cutest subby in Fitzroy."
  3. subber, noun. The person staying. "My subber watered the plants and left me a thank-you note."
sublet

Old word. Comes with fine print, Facebook groups, sketchy bank transfers and a lot of crossed fingers. We're retiring it.

How it works

Away or arriving, it takes minutes.

Two sides, one simple app. Everyone's verified, everything's paid through Subby, and nobody has to wire a deposit to a stranger.

1

List in 5 minutes

Add your dates, a few photos and your weekly price. We'll suggest one from places nearby.

2

Sort your landlord

Send our ready-made consent request and upload the reply. Your listing gets a "consent confirmed" badge.

3

Pick your subber

Chat with verified subbers, check their reviews and choose who you trust with your keys.

4

Go. Get paid.

Rent lands in your account 48 hours after they move in. Enjoy the trip.

Safe by design

The fun bit is the name. The safety bit is serious.

Facebook groups and classifieds are where rental scams live. Subby is built so they can't.

Verified both sides

Every host and subber passes an ID and selfie check before they can message anyone. No anonymous accounts.

Subby Safe Pay

Payments only happen in the app. We hold the money and release it 48 hours after move-in, so nobody pays to "see a place" that doesn't exist.

Lease-friendly

Subletting usually needs your landlord's written OK. Our consent templates make asking easy, and the agreement covers both of you.

Herm the hermit crab, Subby's mascot
Meet Herm

Hermit crabs have been subbying for 100 million years.

They don't build their own homes. They find a great shell, live in it for a while, then pass it on to the next crab. Scientists even have a name for the queue: a vacancy chain.

We just made it an app, added ID checks and stopped anyone getting pinched.

Made for

Anyone between places.

Travellers

Six weeks in Europe without paying rent on an empty room.

Digital nomads

A real home with a desk and wifi, for as long as you like the city.

Students

Somewhere to land for a semester, an exchange or the gap before a lease.

Interns and new arrivals

A furnished place for your first months in a new city.

FAQ

Good questions.

Is subletting allowed?

Usually yes, with your landlord's written consent. In Victoria, a landlord can't unreasonably refuse. Rules differ by state and country, so Subby walks you through the consent request for where you live. This isn't legal advice; check your own lease.

How much does Subby cost?

Listing is free. We take a small service fee only when a booking happens, and it's always shown upfront before anyone pays.

How do I know my place is in good hands?

Every subber is ID-verified and reviewed by past hosts. You chat before you accept, you choose who stays, and a check-in checklist records the condition of your place.

How do I know the place is real?

Hosts are verified too, and your money is held by Subby until 48 hours after you've moved in. If it's not as described, you're covered.

Where is Subby available?

We're launching in Melbourne first, then Sydney and the rest of Australia, then cities around the world. Join the waitlist and tell us where you are.

Get in early.

Join the waitlist for first access in Melbourne, founding-member perks and zero fees on your first subby.

We'll only use your details to tell you about Subby's launch. No spam. Privacy policy