Paying rent without occupancy

[Lindsey Pelzer]

I want to rent to my applicant of choice but when I called to approve her as the tenant, she informed me she couldn't move in on the date originally discussed. While I was calling references and vetting her, she ended up committing to her temporary housing longer because she wasn't sure about her approval to move in to my unit. Now instead of the first week move in, it's now the third week. I don't want to be out most of the months rent and don't see any other option than to keep looking for someone who can move in sooner. I was reading about prepaid rent and a holding deposit but those don't seem to offer me a way to get the first three weeks of rent covered. Or maybe I am missing something?