Does anyone have experience in this type of situation?

You will find that even though the school year has started there will be late arrivals, or students that have a housing situation that isn't working out.

I know as a Real Estate Investor, we're not supposed to get too attached to the seller's situation.

I figured that would help to mitigate those situations.

You also better know exactly what the lease situation is and you better account for any deposits paid by the tenant to seller.

(repair; and now pest control may be a new one on the list)  However we are still evaluating the situation since multifamily approach is slightly different than SFH. 

We discuss his changing life situation.

My mother is in a similar situation.

You are already saddled and stressed with debt, I don't think you need an additional dose with hard money, unless the deal is one in a life time.

However, in order to initiate a "rent strike" and not pay rent, at least in Texas, there are specific notification and response windows that have to be met (by the tenant) and failed (by the landlord) before the tenant can take any of this action.If you have your requests and invoices for the efforts to remedy the situations, if the issues named were never reported, and If the report appears retaliatory in intent, you're probably in good shape.