@Adam:Depending on which of the Drake models you are considering, they score relatively well on the MaP test, though be warned that most of them are not HET nor WaterSense certified, so will not help reduce your water consumption.Champion does not appear to have submitted their models for testing.We have been using Niagara Conservation 1.28usg single-flush HET, flapperless model for the past couple of years (MaP score >1000) in all our renovations and replacements ... installed more than 30 so far and have had one with a defective fill valve ... which the supplier replaced in an hour.

An insured bank is one thing, some private operator flushing other people's money is another.

The salesman assures me that the vents are for air intake only and the unit can go flush - that if I open up the wall there will be sufficient air intake from the air between the studs - but of course he'd say that; he's trying to sell me the unit.Comments?

I've heard of kids flushing toys down the toilet. 

They deploy it to get deals done knowing it comes back either in short term gains or as passive cashflow.For that new Investor just getting in, unless they're flush with cash, they have enough money for a deal and if you have one bullet right now as an investor it's tough to get things done because you have the costs of the deal plus you have holding costs, and you have first in money for a contractor. 

If the tenant/owner is not home, I will turn the water on full blast and flush toilets to see if there is any sewage issue.

I always give them a month or two if they are nice.. and are keeping the house in decent shape.. if you get hard nosed you can end up with a trashed house pretty quickly.. cement down the pipes etc.Now some others do it different .. they just start eviction process with no personal contact.. if its a tenant the eviction flush's that out and then the owner is evicted.. and you deal with what you have..

I'll second most of Nate G's wisdom above with one caveat,It is indeed better to let the qualified and often more prudent landlord "triage" maintenance and repair items and indeed the responsibility for maintaining the habitability of the property is squarely on the LL.BUT when a maintenance or repair item is needed to correct an issue caused by the tenant (like diapers flushed down the toilet, garbage disposal being run with a bottle in it, etc, this NEEDS to be assessed to the tenant. 

Just make sure the CC&R's will allow for what you are looking to do with it.I like condo's if the HOA is flush and not looking at assessments then the bulk of your Capex items are being paid out of your HOA dues and you don't have to worry about coordinating contractors.Best of luck!  

Perhaps that way they will take responsibility for water usage and noticing of leaking water or constantly flushing toilets.