Here in Ohio they would be SOL and many vendors won't contract with tenants for this reason unless they have authorization from the owner. 

This does not keep  any tax authority from their actions.First thing to check is the granting deed and see if any restrictions still apply.

I think @Bob Malecki suggestion about getting an authorization to release information from the borrower is the most likely route to work.

@Will Johnston I'm a native Washingtonian and have lived in and worked on these rowhouses most of my life as a carpenter & contractor so I speak with some authority on this.One of the first things I assess is whether the property is racked via settling , if this is the case and an entire perimeter wall is listing repair measures can be more intensive.

Any possession by Buyer prior to closing or by Seller after closing which is not authorized by a written lease will establish a tenancy at sufferance relationship between the parties.

Falling for such a suggestion, where the author clearly doesn't understand settlements shows your lack of knowledge, not being cruel, just using the fewest words typed to point out the obvious.Any seller, who owns a 1.5M+ property probably isn't an idiot, they know what they had to do to buy the place.

Also according to the authors: In states without this requirement, lenders have the right to sell the house after providing only a notice of sale to the borrower (a nonjudicial foreclosure).

The fact is, our customer only authorized FCI to do basic loan servicing. 

Rule no. 1 of probate investing:Dead people don't care.You need a seller with the capacity, powers and authority to contract and sell the property to you. 

You are never going to change anything with that lender, even with a POA.You simply need an Authorization To Release Mortgage Information  as your questions won't go beyond payment, interest, principal and payoff or interest adjustments if applicable.