Why do new apartment move-in dates slip?
Because a building can’t open until it receives its Certificate of Occupancy, and construction schedules move. Inspections, utility connections, weather, labor, and supply delays can push the CO back by weeks. For you, the risk is timing: your current lease may end before the new unit is ready. That’s why we list only opening dates we confirm within the last 30 days.
What your lease likely says
Texas apartment leases usually address delayed move-in. Common terms:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Rent abated during delay | You don’t pay rent until the unit is ready |
| Right to terminate | You can cancel if the unit isn’t ready within a set number of days after the start date |
| Deposit refund | Your deposits are returned if you cancel under the delay terms |
| Notice | The community must tell you about the delay in writing |
Read it before you sign
Delay terms are easiest to understand before you need them. We read them with you when you pre-lease.
Your three options
- Hold. Keep the lease and wait. Ask for a rent credit, hotel or interim housing, or moving help in writing. Works best when the delay is short and firm.
- Switch buildings. Move to an open building, sometimes one from the same owner. Compare its net effective, fees, and year two with your original lease.
- Release. Cancel under the delay terms and get your deposits back. Works best when the new date is uncertain or far out.
What to do when you get a delay notice
- Get the new date in writing, with the reason if possible.
- Check your current lease: can you extend, go month-to-month, or stay a few extra weeks? What does it cost?
- Ask the community what it offers: rent credits, interim housing, moving costs.
- Compare options on cost and certainty.
- Decide in writing before any deadline in the delay terms.
Interim housing
If you’re between leases, options include a short extension at your current place, a furnished short-term rental, or a hotel offered by the community. Ask whether the community will store packages or allow early key pickup for deliveries.
How we help
If you leased through us, we take the delay up with the community in writing, ask about credits and interim housing, and report back with your options side by side. If switching makes sense, we line up open buildings that match your move date. Our guide to pre-lease or move now covers the choice before you sign. If you’re facing a delay now, tell us about your delay.
