In the Middle Ages, sub-tenants were responsible for cultivating the land and paying rent to the tenant, who in turn paid rent to the landowner. They were also required to provide labor services, such as helping with the harvest or repairing the manor house. Sub-tenants typically held their land for a fixed term, such as one year or several years. They could be evicted if they failed to pay rent or perform their labor services.
Sub-tenants were often peasants who did not own land of their own. They relied on the land provided by the tenant to make a living. Sub-tenancy was a common form of land tenure in the Middle Ages, and it played an important role in the feudal system.