Keeping properties empty is almost never more profitable than keeping them occupied. If rents are falling such that they're not sufficient to cover the mortgage

Keeping properties empty is almost never more profitable than keeping them occupied. If rents are falling such that they're not sufficient to cover the mortgage payments, that's usually a sign than property prices are about to go down, not up. The exception might be if someone is trying to sell the property in the coming months. Doesn't make sense to find tenants who are cool with being kicked out in a few months.