Why do move-in dates slip?
A new building can’t open until the city issues a Certificate of Occupancy, sometimes a temporary one first. That depends on final inspections for fire, life safety, and building systems. A late delivery of materials, a failed inspection, or weather can push the date back. If you’ve pre-leased a unit, or you’re eyeing lease-up apartments with later phases, a slip is the main risk to plan for.
Slips are common enough that we plan for them on every pre-lease. The goal is a plan that works whether the date holds or moves.
What does your lease say about delays?
Most pre-lease agreements include a delay clause. It usually covers three things:
- Notice. How and when the community tells you about a delay.
- Your options. A later start date, a transfer to another unit or building, or a release from the lease.
- Any credit. Some offer prorated rent, waived fees, or help with interim housing.
Read this clause before you sign, and get the expected delivery date in writing. If the clause is vague, ask the office to explain it by email.
Dates in writing
We ask for the delivery date and the delay terms by email before you sign a pre-lease. A dated email is what we use to follow up if the date moves.
How do you bridge the gap?
If the new date lands after your current lease ends, here are the usual bridges, compared:
| Option | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Extend your current lease | Short extension or month-to-month | Monthly rate, notice needed |
| Transfer at the new community | Move into a ready unit now | Price, floor plan, second move |
| Interim housing | Short-term rental or hotel | Cost, any credit from the community |
| Release from the pre-lease | Cancel and look elsewhere | Deposit refund timing |
We’d compare them on total cost. Month-to-month at your current place is often the simplest bridge, but the rate can be high, so ask early. Our guide on what lease-up means explains why prices and dates move during this stretch.
How much buffer should you keep?
There’s no single rule, but we’d avoid planning a move-in for the same week your current lease ends. A few weeks of buffer, or a current landlord willing to go month-to-month, takes most of the pressure off. Our guide on whether to pre-lease or move now covers how to weigh buffer against the pre-lease special.
A labeled bridge cost example
Here’s how two bridge options compare when a move-in slips by one month, using made-up numbers.
| Option | Cost for the extra month |
|---|---|
| Month-to-month at your current place | Current rent plus a month-to-month premium, say $1,450 + $300 = $1,750 |
| Short-term furnished rental | $2,200 plus a cleaning fee |
| Community credit toward interim housing | Varies; ask what’s offered |
In this example, month-to-month is the cheaper bridge. But it depends on whether your current landlord allows it and how much notice they need. Ask early. Many landlords need 30 days’ notice to switch to month-to-month, the same as a move-out notice.
If the community offers a credit, get the amount and the conditions in writing. Some credits apply to your first month’s rent. Others reimburse documented costs.
How do we track dates?
We confirm opening dates with each community at least every 30 days and show the date we last checked on our opening soon page. If you’ve saved a building and given consent, you’ll get at most one alert a day if its date moves.
If your date has already slipped, send us the community’s notice and your current lease end. We’ll lay out the options with costs, usually within a few hours during our hours.
