We ended up putting a clause in the lease that we covered utilities (solid waste, gas, electricity, water, etc), but if any single bill exceeded $200 it would be charged as additional rent that was due with the next months rent.

I would rescind my offer and request some additional terms to the contract. 

I would be informing him that he owes an additional $250 above his $1600 deposit to cover the repairs.

Additionally, there are some good websites where you can pay for credit checks and/or criminal background checks.

Have you tried to obtain an unsecured line of credit with your new business in addition to your loan? 

You can request additional security deposit but new laws affect how long you can keep that, I believe only one year but you will need to independently verify this.

Additionally, I reside in the Doylestown area, and would not be opposed to forming relationships with other investors in the tri-state market. 

I am an international investor making my first investment in upstate NY.I need help from an accountant that is familiar with international investors.Happy to share additional details if required, let me know.Thanks!

The high density polyurethane as mentioned in the other posts is much lighter than a cement/mud mixture making it less likely to cause additional settlement due to the weight, another benefit is that it expands and compresses the soil underneath it to a certain degree.

The hard money lenders I have contacted are charging almost $5K in fees that are due upfront which is in addition to 10% interest.