(I am not talking of a small check, i am talking of checks in the 100-200k range, same story every time)No wonder why Irvington is suffering, with such neglect and abuse for public service something big has to change, and it looks like mayor tony vauss is on the right path, he just might new to cut off some of the old heads that have old bad habits and are not ready to change.  

Is it acceptable for me to install a lockable thermostat in the bottom unit to ensure it is not being abused by the lower unit?

Due to tenant abuse and rising costs I am getting out of the market of providing heat to my tenants.

Peter keep in mind as Mike stated above that he provides these type of investments for his buyers... so his posts are a little more like an infomerical.. plus you could no way get the velocity and volume of sub too lease backs with 20k down as you can with turn key rental houses.. your not going to go to PHX and take a bus tour and look at 10 to 30 homes in one day that are all teed up with 20k down sub too buyers.. it can happen of course anything in real estate can happen but these are not fair comparisions by any means.I mean i build new homes  and i could show a graph were I put 25k down on a construction loan and make 100k profit in one year... that would blow both of these models clean out of the water.. and I could also post my article in the Portland business journal showing that I am in the top 30 of all builders in the portland market  #24.. but can i repeat for the mass's nope.. can others do these things sure.. but what turn key provides is a product for the mass's   other forms of real estate are more involved and take more time and there is less of them..  

I live within walking distance to a bus stop.

We don't have the same issues as you would in FL, but it is amazing how people abuse them.

I've suffered from depression, low self confidence and substance abuse (marijuana) problems... even recently.

Put something in your lease stating if they are abusing the utility, they would be responsible for it.

Nothing abusive of course.

The Fair Housing Act - which applies to private landlords too - makes 'it is illegal to discriminate in housing on the basis of a person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex (incuding gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, or disability."