The first thing I'd do is try some gentle cleaner, like a deck cleaner.

In a somewhat convoluted and ironic twist, I could see the possibility for the genius with the "Racist" facial tattoo suing for discrimination as a protected class.

Gently speaking I think we are reaching diminishing returns.Focusing on the problem at hand the group has generated several viable options that her brother can explore.I would say that keeping it civil with the landlord and avoiding legal threats will probably help get to a solution faster assuming the landlord is a decent person.

Does she have family (they might be adversaries but you have to make the call and try remember kindly gently) ?

Even my bankers seem to get tongue twisted from time to time.  

I've seen garden hoses in enclosed walls used as supply pipes, stripped extension cords used in place of romex in closed walls, wires twisted together with duct tape... 

I know this style of presenting multiple offers has been brought up by some and used, probably began as a guru twist as a great idea that made things different and exciting, but I'm pretty sure I've had more sales transaction presentations than they have, go with simple.Bryan mentions lease-options, those can get you the initial control and use of a property, but they are simply a lease agreement conveying rights of tenancy with an option to buy the property later on.

I see now where you wrote it above.The IRS sure has some twisted and conflicting interpretations of their own rules.

Gentle ones, saying "Just had a baby, might have missed it, but don't have record of...etc.etc."

Nothing a few twists of an allen key can't fix.