Nah you can pay a landlord not to maintain their property. Who doesn't is not who you'd think it'd be. It's the highly sophisticated ones who know that properties are a pit. Rentals: you just trash until it's time to sell to someone who will gut it. Nice rentals only make sense as a temporary arrangement, and I have done that too : acting as a resident property manager / housesitter for discounted rent. Typically renting from someone who lives out of town.