Need some advice on my off campus rental, mid semester.

[Jake Baxter]

Hello Bigger Pockets!
Newbie here looking for some advice on my single family rental that I'm renting for the first time.
The home is located just outside of the University of Connecticut Campus in Storrs. Off campus housing is hard to come by in the area and the price of rent reflects that, hence why I invested in the property. After living there a year and rehabbing the entire house,  I posted the rental active last month. My price is competitive and still makes a great return for myself. Although I found myself in a predicament having posted it in December.
All the interest I'm receiving is from students looking for housing for the 2019-2020 school year (ideally with a lease starting in July). I've received at least 40 inquiries about the property for next school year but zero interested in a lease starting next month.
I soon realized my mistake, the campus has a housing deadline that must be met the beginning of the semester before the one in which they're seeking housing. So for students looking for Fall 2019 housing, their deadline is February (next month). Students in need of housing next semester (Spring 2019) have already secured it over the summer.
This leaves me at a stalemate. I've had multiple students offer to sign a one-year lease starting as early as June. If I don't act soon I risk losing a large sum of the students trying to acquire housing before the deadline in February. Although, signing a lease beginning in June leaves me paying on the property without any cash flow for an additional 5 months, setting me back on any new potential properties (which I already have good leads on).
The town that the home is located in is  nestled in the quiet corner of Connecticut and doesn't attract a lot of metropolitan traffic. The closest major city is Hartford, about 30 minutes west.
I  am looking for any advice on what my next step should be. Should I sign a lease with students willing to start as early as June? Or,do I  roll the dice, hope that I stumble upon a family looking for housing or students that haven't yet secured housing for the upcoming semester/onward?
I'm attempting to gather a few different ideas from investors with more experience than I.  Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Jake Baxter

[Marshall Daniels]

Jake, I've rented to students for the past 14 years.  My area rents on the same schedule as yours.  Sign the lease starting in June that runs through 5/31/2020 now.  Then, look to fill the space in the meantime with students who want it through May'19.  To accomplish this, you will want to contact the schools off campus housing office.  Learn where students look to rent apartments.  Is it Craigslist, Jumpoffcampus.com, maybe a school site, a university bill board (for sublettors)?   You'll be limping through until you get to June.  You may have to rent out the apartments by the bedroom.  These people would be tenant at will.... with the understanding that they are out of the space by 5/31/2019.  Find into the students looking to sublet.  Advertise to students who may be unhappy with their current living arrangement.  Discount your rooms.  Walk through the school and post flyers about your rooms.  Place flyers with local coffee shops.  The first year is tough. Students rent in September/October and sign leases for the following June.