I also have a separate septic tank rider that specifically calls out nothing except toilet paper and enzymes can go into the tank.

This was after the foundation was given the OK by 2 separate inspectors and occurred due to lack of support under the house, soft soil in Florida, and lack of gutters to disperse rain water from the foundation.

I'm having to make some assumptions because there is missing info in your post, but it sounds like the flex space doesn't have a separate door to the exterior.

The duplex had carports and separate fenced backyard areas.

The duplex had carports and separate fenced backyard areas.

Motivation is an emotional response to a circumstance, not the circumstance itself.Although the sensible solution to the circumstance of being in foreclosure let's say, is to sell their house, the reality is that the emotional response to being in such a situation is to find ways to keep their house, not sell it.So ibn order to find motivated SELLERS, you need to first understand what a motivated seller is.A motivated seller is not someone that wants to needs to or even has to sell their house.

Question is if we have a conversation with each tenant about what they feel is a fair rent and one says $1375 and the other says $1400, and $1400 is our target - should we accept separate rent amounts?

Got to separate them. 

Motivation is an emotional response to a circumstance, not the circumstance itself.” 

Turns out Cleveland is even better than Cincinnati the way they do it by separating classes of tax on residence, employment and business (rental).