It is asymmetrical with the thick side facing down to conform with the contour of the tub wall, and is held in place by pressure created by tightening those chrome screws.  

I purchased a property on long island (town of islip )  when I called national grid to turn the gas on they told ne that since it was inactive for over a year I would have to get a pressure test . additionally It looks like I have to get a permit as well.

If you have a furnace and air conditioniner in one unit it doesn't matter because the thermostat acts like a switch.

I am currently living in an apartment and my lease ends in 3 weeks so I'll need to move out into an air bnb in the meantime. 

@Yumna Zahid I’ve done air bnb since Aug 2018.

Furthermore, these houses are all made out of ship lap, which means they have zero insulation and single pane windows and the ones I am seeing do not have any type of central air conditioning.

There are also development pressures which do their part to limit the development of new product. 

I'm estimating $25k in repairs to account for new appliances as well as installing central air (kind of a non-negotiable here in FL).

Upgraded the septic, air conditioning.

The toilet leakage is also not raw sewage, its leakage from the gap between the toilet bowl and the tank when the toilet flushes (because of high pressure flush).