The lease states that "nonpayment or disconnection for any other reason during the term of this lease is considered a violation of this lease agreement and shall be cause for eviction". 

Looking to invest in a property that could either rent for close to the 1% rule (I know VA Beach is notorious for having a home value to actual rent disconnect) or operate well as a vacation rental.

They are Section 8, and 100% of their rent is subsidized by the city so I'm at least getting paid, however both the husband and wife have had their cell phones disconnected and are not responding to messages.

If her home is close to the retirement home, perhaps people could stop by the vacant house on their way to visit grandma or stay there if they live out of town and are visiting grandma.I'd also disconnect the washing machine.

Sure, take out the stove (our of the house, not just disconnect it.) 

If your property has a panel that uses circuit breakers, the entire panel cover needs to be removed, this exposes a lot of live electric parts, and the tenant has to remove the existing circuit circuit breaker, disconnect a wire, and then reconnect the wire to a larger circuit breaker and then install that circuit breaker.

@Andrew PettitGenerally BRRRR connotes rental real estate (as opposed to flips, developments, or operating businesses).I'm curious if there's a disconnect between you and your CPA. 

I'm really thinking there is a disconnect in my understanding of how this type of deal is profitable.

However I think in practice it would look/feel strange and make the basement feel alot more disconnected. 

Finished water line earlier this week but somehow realized that disconnecting the galvanized water line also isolated the rest of the piping in the house from any grounding.