The only time a Landlord should reduce rent is if they screw up and fail to deal with a problem in a timely manner.This is an especially odd question because it's only one drain for the laundry which means it was a very, very minor inconvenience for a very, very short period of time.Let's say your property rents for $1,000 a month or $33 a day.

Duplexes are far out of my budget at around 550k-700k.I'm opening to short-term rentals as well via Airbnb.

Don’t sell yourself short

This would turn the property from an investment into a liability in the short term.

Its a short book, finished in 3 hours, but has also changed my thinking and actually has me wanting to become the bank

I have done a fix n' flip, and have a short term vacation rental currently.

Short of risking tax evasion, you can either: (1) plan to pay the taxes twice; or (2) find some alternative method to do wholesale (e.g. option method). 

If you inspect 75 to 100 houses in your market (in a short time), you'll not only be an expert, you'll also find a great deal (you might not know it at the time, but you will stumble on one.)Best.

I'd love to give them a short-term out (we purchase the property from them by getting a mortgage after X months) and a long term option (say, 3 years).

Short answer, give a call to your contractor license board and explain what you want to do, it could be anonymous.