He admitted that it is "not cost effective" for them to do the repairs, therefore I would have 7 days to vacate...all because I complained about repairs not getting done.  

Drive around and search for properties that might work, online research is very effective too. 

This is a cost effective way to access equity if the lender is flexible to offer.

PM me if you think you might be interested.This is about as ironic as you can get...but it shows the networking effects of answering a question.  

So what strategies would be the most effective use of that budget ?

Valve is off (no water flowing to WS) and hasn't effected the rest of the house.

If you need mentoring to that effect We're here to assist you.

After the 90 day flip rule came into effect, I now compete with the average local investor for the most part.One large downside is that if we finish rehabbing a property in a month, is that the property is now vacant for the next two months unless I can find a conventional buyer.

Now how that all actually plays out with insurance, attorneys and courts in individual cases, and at what costs in money and time, that's the rub.There is usually an insurance policy on the tank, to cover leaks, as part of the price of the fuel, so check with the seller on that.I would certainly recommend making your deal contingent on a clean leak test (and decommissioning if that's what you choose) and have your deal effectively read such that if the test comes back with water in the tank, ie the tank has leaked, then you can walk from the deal and get your EM back.The existence of a UST, especially if in use and not leaking, in no way needs to be a required deal killer though. 

Or,would it be effective to send it to the deceased address hoping that it would get to person in charge?