Everyone has a different perspective on what a "safe" and good neighborhood is.

I would assume that the fire marshall would not be pleased if they saw this mess...Lastly, just from a common-sense perspective, if someone has so much stuff that it's stacked to the ceiling and spilling out all over the yard, then that's an unreasonable amount of stuff, and it's time for the tenant to get a storage unit (or rent a larger place).Think of it this way: If a tenant owned ten cars, you wouldn't let them park all over the yard and take up every parking space.

I have a little different perspective.

It would be cool to see an insider perspective of a renter and their experience.

Assuming you "converted" the property to rental 4-5 years ago and you filed for rental applications/permits and have been filing 1040's for that property then you should be good from an age perspective. 

Generally, here's the rule I follow with stuff like this: If every house on the block has a garage and you remove it from your house, that's an expected facet of the home that is lost and you will objectively lose value when comparing to another house from a "market value" perspective; especially from an appraiser's point of view. 

In perspective, probably it wasn't the best thing but we got the interest down from 3.75 to 2.5 and , yes, now there's no mortgage interest to use for the rental.

You've never done business with Scott Smith or Royal Legal SolutionsThe emails you claim to have received could have been written by his secretary, or Edward in the PhilippinesHow can you say "they may be slipping a little" when you have no other experience/perspective to judge him by, other than your own?

I hadn't approached it from that perspective before nor have I read about any situation where that is an issue, but I can believe it!

Additionally, I recommend reaching out to @Kyle Mast for his perspective.