My Salary rose from an Entry level programmer of $32k in 1997 to well over $100k by the year 2000.What also helped was that I lived below my means.Combining having a good paying profession and living below my means, it allowed me to pursue Investments with Disposable money.

That way we get our remote access/no rekeying, but without the high cost of remote programmable locks.  

If they leave windows open or back entrances unlocked, thermostats turned way up when testing the heat, Fridges/freezers not closed all the way, Bring in 4 kids who are running around and knocking holes in walls and tripping down steps (that they later blame on a piece of pulled up carpet) it all falls on your dime. 

The thermostat is working and the boiler is calling for heat.

It's definitely less than ideal to not be able to control your own thermostat, but I have found that property owners sometimes make a bigger deal out of it than they need to.

The home does not have separate meters for gas/water/electric and all the ducting is connected to the same furnace and A/C... the thermostat for the air conditioning and heater is in our unit. 

I don't think tenants will appreciate not having control over the thermostat.

I am a 29 year old Mechanical Engineer by degree and a Robotics Engineer/software programmer by trade. 

She also requested a cover be built over the doorbell chime and a box built for the wires from the backside of the thermostat that were protruding into the pantry.  

And is the thermostat on the tank controlling the circulator just like if it was a regular indirect?