A thermostat is an on off switch , simple solution , add a second one somewhere in the unit ( make it look like a smoke detector) Set it to override the first thermostat ...In my second house I had roommates , I had 2 thermostats , 1 in my bedroom that controlled the HVAC , another in the living room that wasn't hooked to anything just for the roommates to adjust .

@Jonathan Chan I have a solution for your problem.

This used to be a near-impossible task for a company like BiggerPockets, but technology and 3rd party solutions are getting better.

If the rents and upkeep are really as unreasonable as you claim there should be other cheaper and better solutions nearby. 

My grandfather used this truth to subdivide & sell most of his farmland in rural MA and sustain his family comfortably over the years.  

Of course to maximize your tax benefit it needs to be sustainable over time. 

A lot of universities have students that need mid term housing due to graduation dates, mini semester programs, etc. and I've found if you approach them and offer them a solution to this problem, they are willing to work with you and help send business your way. 

Give it your best pitch, cause we all know no strike or strike-- you're going to face the reckoning.Fast solutions have slow problems.

Quote from @Jeffrey Mair: Hello, I am seeking advice or creative ideas to move closer to the goal of owning a home in San Diego county without the obvious solution of selling off my small rental portfolio.

I would call or email a specialist in FIRPTA such as "Tax solutions FIRPTA consulting" in Katy Texas, since they can answers all questions about the law plus investor friendly lenders