They claimed this was not their fault as they did not provide the washer, but they provide the washer and dryer hookups and the pipes that regularly leak into the basement, garage, and kitchen.

Some include washer and dryer.

Worth you do not provide a refrigerator, washer, or dryer.

You can call past landlords listed, but there are ways around that, and trust me the tenants find those routes.I've found that if the tenant can afford a stove and fridge, if not a washer and dryer too, they can generally afford the rent.

They also left them behind & the same appliances except one dryer has survived 3 subsequent tenants.In our higher end properties we do install better quality appliances & we have a repair guy we can trust on speed dial, so he reacts quickly for us.

Washer & Dryer?

Hopefully he put new freon in it and installed filter dryers on both the suction and liquid lines or you'll be changing that compressor again.  

Second, stainless steel appliances and new washer/dryer. 

Using it for the down payment or buying the property outright is out of their terms (you could probably split hairs and say that their terms of service says no mortgage payments... but buying the entire property outright could be a gray area.....)But...  

Plus the downstairs is a wet basement so not rentable however is plumbed for washer and dryer to add additional income.