Nadeem Khouri (junior-engineering) has been searching for a roommate since last semester.

On short notice, Khouri's former roommate decided to take a leave of absence from school, and the two have been trying since then to sublet his room in Briarwood Apartments, 697A Waupelani Dr.

After months of unsuccessful searching, Khouri and his former roommate tried to attract prospective subletter it's a quieter neighborhood," he said.

For some students such as Khouri, the beginning of the spring and end of the fall semesters have been occupied with searching for sublet buyers.

Students who are no longer living in State College, such as Khouri's roommate, can have a difficult time subletting.

"Toward the end of every semester it gets very busy," said Jean Welling, staff assistant for the Office of Off-Campus Living.

Along with graduating students, some students also need to sublet their space because they take an internship out of town or are studying abroad.

The Off-Campus Living's Web site (www.sa.psu.edu/ocl) allows students to post ads to sublet their space free of charge.

As of yesterday, there were 53 ads on the site that have been posted for more than a month.

Ads run for two weeks at a time but can be renewed.

Half the advertisers renew their ads, but few advertisers — especially individuals subletting — renew their ads all year long, Welling said.

There is always a long list that ranges from 50 to 150 ads, depending on the time of year, she said.

"We suggest they look in October if they want to sublet in January," said Ginny Chuba, manager of State College Sun Corp., 422 Clay Lane.

Classes having already begun for the spring semester, it may be more difficult for subletters now, Chuba said.

Students are better off finding a subletter than holding onto their apartments after they are gone, she said, adding that it helps the student move on with life after graduation without any responsibilities back in State College.

Different factors dictate how easy a space will be picked up. According to Chuba, efficiencies are easier to sublet.

Incentives such as parking spaces, a good location or whether or not the space will have to be shared also matter for prospective subletters.

Laurie Smith, property manager of Falk Realty, 532 E. College Ave., has not had a problem with subletting for the past nine years.

Whether or not a lease is sublet does not affect her, because rent still needs to be paid.

But if rent is not paid they might have to go to court, she said.

Smith said although she has never been purposely deceived, many people sublet without knowing they have to go through her and pay a $100 sublet fee.

Welling said she sometimes sees the results of sublet arrangements that have not worked out.

"Once in a while people come in with a problem . . . I refer them to mediation or attorney depending on the problem," she said.

Students such as Veronica Garcia (junior-integrative arts) have been fortunate with the subletting process.

Garcia said a friend took her sublet, but her roommate Marie Arieta (junior-hospitality management), who has an out-of-town internship, is still looking for someone to take her room.

Paulo Cunha (senior-management & international business) has not gotten a response to the fliers he's placed around campus for his sublet, but has had better luck during the summer without placing any ads.

"Someone showed up out of nowhere," he said.

Khouri has also had experience with sublets in the past when his fiancé was subletting last summer, but it worked out better for her. She had no roommate for that space.

For Khouri and his roommate, if their search remains unfruitful, Khouri said the two would reluctantly keep paying the rent, which they're already behind on.