However, I’ve owned about 10 hundred year old properties and not had too many issues other than normal wear and tear.

I currently have 8 and would like to take some of them and refinance under a business mortgage to free up some room for future purchases with normal financing. 

We don't have a rental lease agreement, just the original contract from 2018 that is a normal purchase and sale agreement with an addendum stating they can live in the property for the 4 months prior to closing.So my main question is what should I do!!?? 

My tenants of 4 years are moving out and they showed me a hole in the carpetThe carpet is kinda old and I think it was normal wear not anything they did wrongTenants are expecting to pay for it out of their deposit but I don’t think they should.

Will be slightly different than normal home owners insurance you’d get if you were living there, but relatively the same and any broker/company would likely do both.As someone else mentioned, lease should require the renter to provide you proof that they have renters insurance (usually only $100-$200/year) with something like $250k or so liability and you (landlord) named as an additional insured.

My record is currently up for absolute pardon and will be sealed in the next 8-12 months, so I just need somewhere to live for that period until I can apply for housing through normal avenues again.Any help is very much appreciated.

Action normally stops this complaint. 

High price, normally not great condition, and rents so so low compared to purchase price....like $1000-$1200/side on $400,000+ purchase price. 

Is it normal to spend months doing a project like this. 

Definitely leverage your money (ie. finance your properties) and put down as little as you can to stretch your funds as far as you can.  3 cash flowing properties could earn you close to $1,500 a month (net after all normal expenses and a repair reserve).