Once the HOA is up and running, it's very unlikely that they would amend their restrictive covenants to bake in a special benefit for someone. 

Can I just cross out the property management's name on the current leases, and just add my name to it and provide the amended lease to the tenants (without requiring them to sign anything)? 

If it is determinedexcessive utilities are being consumed by an individual or unit, management reserves the right to amend this andhold tenant responsible for additional portion of utilities.i.

I paid 40k in back tax's plus gave the owner 10k before she lost the property in a matter of days.. but she would never sign the closing docs.. so i was forced to sue for performance.. she did not have the money to give me my money back.. took 2 years and about 15k in attorneys fees but we won.. even with the judges order she would never sign the deed.. so  I had to go back in and get the judge to amend the order in a manner that title company would insure me based on his court order.. its the first time I ended up owning anything with NO deed transferring title.  

Either way get the elevation cert, as having this in hand can reduce your premiums as without the elevation cert you are always quoted the highest premiums VS your actual base flood elevation measurements...I once had a property removed from flood plane went from AE to X via a elevation cert and a LOMA - Letter of Map amendment. 

Ride it out and decide if you want to renew.Also, if they can show that the current owner knew about smoking and pets, you won't be able to evict on that basis, because it would be considered a mutually agreed amendment to the lease.

You also may think about amending returns to reflect the depreciation.  

Paul also signed a Contingency removal removing all contingencies, buyers inspection Advisory, & Release of EMD amendment.

While contracts can be amended, it is no small task and has it's legal challenges the more the investor interest (all of it) is spread to a larger number of investors.  

If there is a loan involved, you will need a survey...if paying cash, then you can take the risk if you wish but you won't be able to amend the survey exception in title commitment.