Section 8 Gap Month with no rent

[Rick Bassett]

Here is the scenario: We have a property available for rent 8/1/18 (occupied until 7/31). We can generally do a turnover within 24 hours (sometimes with a punch list of remaining items) but this time around we are getting a lot of interest from potential Section 8 tenants. 

As most of us know, Section 8 requires an inspection before approving the property, setting the rent amount and approving the lease arrangement. 

The rub is that the Housing Authority will not inspect the property until it is empty. This means we essentially lose a month's rent (August) by the time that they inspect, make their offer and approve the deal (if they do at all).

This is obviously a big disincentive for us as landlords and a bad situation for voucher holders as well.

I was wondering how others are handling this gap?

Rick