This time of year, many parts of the country typically experience a slowdown in residential leasing. With the holidays fast approaching many renters postpone their moves until January. This practice frequently results in longer vacancies when they occur at this time of year. When drafting new leases during this slower part of the renting cycle it is best to vary the term of the lease from the normal one-year so that it results in a lease expiration date at a more favorable time of the year. For some areas this may accomplished by simply extending the lease expiration date a couple of months until the following January or about 14 months hence. In other areas, the market historically may not improve until the spring thus a 16-month lease may be better suited.
The point is simply that taking into consideration the annual lease cycle when renting a vacancy during lull periods of the year can help break the cycle of having a vacancy at a less favorable time of the year. Most renters are not opposed to reasonable deviations in lease term. Of course advertising a vacancy online will help at any time of the year. May your vacancies rent quickly!