Yes you should be able to do that. Although be aware that 'the rules' change all the time. That said, once you're in Thailand it's pretty easy to find a way to stay TBH.
Why are you even considering being compliant with this? If you don't have a rental contract, you have no rights. If he doesn't fill in a TM30, he's breaking the law. Many many things require evidence of TM30. If my landlord was wanting to do this - or even mentioned it - I'd be moving asap. So much rental choice atm.
I generally find US friends have, historically, had an easier time with their Thai embassies. The one in London is just a pita, and often completely random in its demands. I once - and only once in 6 years - had my METV application returned because I hadn't printed out my bank statements in color. 🤔
I've worked as a teacher in Thailand and the average salary is around $1,000 for a 40 hour week so $15-25 an hour is not unrealistic. There's a large demand for qualified ESL teachers.