Better an empty house than a bad tenant.

A vacant house can be less costly or troublesome than one occupied by a tenant who causes damage or other problems. The proverb treats an empty property as the safer of two imperfect choices.

The broader point is that filling a vacancy is not always an improvement. If the available person is likely to bring serious difficulties, waiting may be wiser than accepting them simply to avoid an empty place.

Use the proverb when weighing the inconvenience of a vacant rental against the potential harm of accepting a troublesome tenant. It emphasizes the risks of a poor choice rather than suggesting that vacancy is desirable in itself.