Is Your Apartment Sitting Empty? 9 Ways to Reduce Time Between Tenants

A single vacant month a year reduces annual income by about 8%. For an apartment renting at 6,000 ₪, that is 6,000 ₪ you will not recover, plus arnona and utility bills that fall back on you in the meantime. Two vacant months amount to about 17% of annual income. In terms of returns, reducing the time between tenants can sometimes be worth more than any rent increase.

• Above-market pricing – The most common reason. Plenty of viewings with few offers is a clear sign.


• Weak photos and listing copy – Tenants shortlist properties on their phones, and an apartment that looks bad in photos will not get a viewing.


• The apartment's condition – Peeling paint, odors, and minor issues left unresolved.


• Limited viewing availability – A landlord who offers viewings only once a week loses prospective tenants.


• Timing – Looking for a tenant in a slow season without planning ahead.

As soon as the tenant gives notice, or about two months before the lease ends, start marketing and arrange viewings in coordination with them. Ideally, the new tenant moves in the day after the previous one leaves.

Setting the rent too high "to test the market" usually costs more than it earns. Three vacant weeks in pursuit of an extra 300 ₪ a month is a loss, not a gain.

Daylight, a tidy apartment, wide-angle shots, and a logical photo sequence. This is the least expensive marketing investment—and the most effective.

Include size, floor, elevator, parking, balcony, air conditioning, move-in date, and requirements. A complete listing saves unnecessary viewings and attracts serious inquiries.

Paint, clean thoroughly, and fix every minor issue before the first viewing. A move-in-ready apartment rents faster and at a better price.

Offer several time slots each week, including evenings. A prospective tenant who cannot arrange a viewing will move on to the next apartment.

By the time you respond to an inquiry two days later, that person may have already signed elsewhere. A same-day response gives you a competitive advantage.

At renewal, set an end date that falls during a strong rental season in your area. That way, the next tenant search will also begin when demand is highest.

The best way to avoid vacancy is not to change tenants at all. Prompt repairs, fair treatment, and moderate rent increases encourage tenants to stay longer.

• *About 90 days before the lease ends: What to do*: Check whether the tenant plans to renew; review market rents


• *About 60 days before: What to do*: If the tenant is leaving: take photos, prepare the listing, and start marketing


• *About 45 to 30 days before: What to do*: Coordinate viewings with the outgoing tenant and screen applicants


• *About 30 to 14 days before: What to do*: Sign the lease with the new tenant and obtain the required security deposits and guarantees


• *Move-out day: What to do*: Complete the handover, inspect and document the apartment's condition, and take meter readings


• *The following days: What to do*: Make minor repairs and paint if needed, then have the new tenant move in

There are three clear signs: plenty of listing views but few inquiries, plenty of viewings but no offers, and prospective tenants explicitly saying they have seen similar apartments for less. If two of these signs appear after two weeks of marketing, the asking rent is probably above market. A moderate adjustment early on is far better than a sharp cut after a month.

• Do not compromise on screening – An unsuitable tenant who moves in quickly will cost you more than another two weeks of waiting.


• Do not slash the rent – First, review the listing, photos, and apartment's condition.


• Do not leave the apartment unattended – An empty apartment needs regular checks and ventilation to prevent damage and damp.

At Flamingo, reducing vacancy time is one of the ways professional management pays for itself. We start marketing early, set rent based on market data, list the property on our platform, show it to prospective tenants, and screen applicants thoroughly—so the next tenant moves in quickly and is also the right fit.

Is your apartment empty, or has your tenant given notice? Leave your contact details, and we will get to work finding your next tenant.