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 :-)

[Joe Villeneuve]

If you are holding the property for them for any amount of time, before they move in, they are getting the same benefits as if they were moving in during that time period.  They're just not living there during that time period.

If they're not paying rent until they move in, they're getting the property for free...and you're losing money.

Either charge them rent during those months before they move in, or keep their names on file, and tell them to call you when they're ready to sign a lease...and start paying rent.  Until then, the house is still on the market.

In other words, don't let a tenant tie up a house, unless they pay for the right to do so.