Your answer will really depend on the lease agreement you have right now.  A majority of lease agreements prohibit sub-letting and will continue to hold you liable on the lease, regardless of what happens.  If your lease does permit sub-letting, then again, the provisions in the lease would control--- and many will continue to make you liable if your sub-letting doesn't work out.  If your lease allows you to transfer responsibility for the lease while you are gone--- then you need to follow those procedures to the letter to protect yourself from additional liability.