When To Sign Lease & Collect Rent

[Alex L.]

Hi, my first rental is up for a new tenant(I have only had one since turning it into a rental). I listed the property and found a new tenant that has completed an application, screening, application fee, is qualified and is ready to commit. However, the lease doesn't start for 3 months. My current tenants gave me a large heads up and I was able to find someone within a week of them telling me.

My question: Do I have them sign the lease now and do a security deposit or do I wait until it's closer, week, etc, and do it then? It seems like I should have them do a deposit and sign the lease now, but maybe you legally can't?