June 25, 2025

Handling Early Tenant Inquiries: A Guide for Monthly Rental Hosts

Starting out as a landlord can feel like a rollercoaster, especially when you’re eagerly waiting for that first tenant to book your property. One of our community members recently shared their experience, which might resonate with many new hosts:

“I have a direct booking request for a guest who wants to start about a month from now, and stay for a few months. How do you handle requests this far away? Do you tell them to try back later as you seek other tenants who can start earlier? Do you get a non-refundable deposit?”

If you’re new to monthly rentals, here’s some advice on handling those early inquiries and bookings, especially when your prospective tenant wants to book further in advance.

1. Balancing early bookings vs. filling sooner dates

If your calendar is wide open and you don’t have other prospects, accepting a booking months in advance can help lock in some income and reduce vacancy risk. But if you’d rather keep your options open for travelers needing your space sooner, it’s perfectly okay to be upfront about that. Many travelers have flexible start dates, so don’t hesitate to ask if they’re able to adjust their timeline.

You can politely let the early prospect know you’re currently prioritizing near-term stays but would love to stay in touch for their later dates. Encourage them to check back as their move-in date gets closer.

For new landlords, it’s easy to worry about missing out, but the data shows monthly rentals fill faster than many expect. Based on Furnished Finder booking data:

Average stay length: 93 days
Average book-to-stay window: 34 days (meaning most travelers are booking just a few weeks before their move-in date)
Average tenants per booking: 2.6 (lots of solo travelers and couples)

Landlords who stay patient and responsive often see great results. Megan Ahern, a monthly rental host for over 5 years, shares:

“Furnished Finder has been great for my MTR business. We’re consistently hitting less than 5% vacancy on our units and have increased cash flow significantly on our small unit, small multifamily properties. Our city limits how many STRs we can have per property, but since those rules don’t apply to MTRs, we’re able to boost rents without worrying about STR restrictions.”

In short, staying flexible, communicating clearly, and knowing the booking window trends can help you confidently manage early inquiries and fill your calendar with quality tenants.

2. Use a hybrid approach when possible

If you have a gap between bookings, consider doing short-term rentals (STR) in the interim, if allowed in your city or area. This “MTR first” method, where you prioritize monthly rentals (MTR) but fill gaps with short-term stays, can help maximize occupancy and income.

3. Deposits and holding your property responsibly

When it comes to securing a future booking, most landlords on Furnished Finder ask for a refundable security deposit and cleaning fee at the time of lease signing. This is a standard and traveler-friendly way to formally take your property off the market while giving both you and the tenant peace of mind.

Based on data from over 250,000 listings on Furnished Finder (March 2025), the most common fee setup among landlords is a cleaning fee plus a refundable deposit, with $500 being the most frequently listed deposit amount.

While some landlords may choose to collect a small holding fee to secure a booking well in advance, it’s far more common to simply apply the security deposit once the lease is signed. If you’re concerned about cancellations, having a clear early lease termination (ELT) clause in your lease can help protect you. Furnished Finder recommends including an ELT clause in every lease, with at least a 7-day notice to vacate. This can help protect you in situations where a tenant reserves your property but later decides not to move in.

4. Keep communication clear and professional

Regardless of timing, maintaining open, transparent, and professional communication with prospects goes a long way. Offer virtual tours, respond promptly to questions, and be clear about your policies and availability. While it’s natural to want to fill your space quickly, sometimes waiting a bit for the right tenant can pay off—especially since many monthly renters stay for several months. In the meantime, use this period to make property improvements, tackle deferred maintenance, or update your listing to help attract quality tenants.

5. Be patient, it gets easier

Consistency is key when it comes to monthly rentals. It’s normal to experience a few close calls or quiet periods before securing your first confirmed tenant. But with an average stay of around three months, the effort you put into responding to leads, refining your listing, and staying engaged with prospective tenants often pays off in the form of longer stays and reduced turnover.

Wrapping up: how to turn early leads into successful bookings

Getting early booking requests can feel tricky, but they’re also a great opportunity to secure your rental’s income well in advance. The key is balancing patience with proactive communication and clear policies. Always make sure you understand your local laws around deposits and bookings to protect yourself and your property.

To deepen your strategy, check out these helpful resources:

Effectively managing early leads helps you minimize vacancy periods, and foster strong, long-term tenant relationships.