how long should I hold a property?

[Carolyn A Lloyd]

I am a new landlord - i bought the house next door and am in the process of renting it.  I've had a couple fill out an application and i have done a background check and verified information.  As far as I am concerned they are 'approved'.  But they just informed me that they just signed a 60 day lease on their apartment and will be out of their lease the end of May.  Previously they said they would be finished with their lease May 6.  

What I think happened was that they messed up and did not give their 60 day notice that they were not going to resign a lease with the apartment building they are in (?).

Anyway - I have not sent them an approval letter yet because I don't know what to do.  Can you hold a property that long? and is it really a good idea to do that? and what would be a suggestion for how to deal with that?

I just don't know how to handle this.  This is an investment property for us (we are in our 60s) and it is right next door.  I have it listed on zillow and do have other inquiries.  sooooo :-)