Either way, it seems that we are going to add this clause (unless I hear a convincing reason for not doing so).As such, I'm looking for a lease clause to have tenants pay the first $x of any repair to appliances etc. excluding major mechanical systems and roof (which are my responsibility.)Does anyone have a similar clause they wouldn't mind sharing?

I hope you have some backup mechanism for securing credit rather than expecting lenders to throw money at an unemployed person.

The problem is to most people, AC is just a metal box sitting outside and they have no understanding of how electric or mechanical things operate.

If they do not then you could end up with either a very large increase in dues to make up for a lack of savings or even worse you can end up with a large assessment to fix a major mechanical issue. 

Your intended use of the money may be exactly the same and the mechanism is the same. 

I've never had a thermostat of any kind break, even the old mechanical ones, but the complexity is a possible issue.

Mechanics liens from her. 

 :)This is my first time dealing with this, so I wanted to know if this is sufficient language to protect me from a mechanic's lien."

I’d rehab the property myself off YouTube videos if I had to (despite no mechanical or contractoral ability). 

I would check with a friend that is mechanically inclined of yours to take a look at it.