She’d likely have avoided bedbugs, which she recent had to pay to treat, and pay to replace all her soft goods furniture, after a neighboring apartment was infested.

If he's confident that he can spot everything there is to spot, roof and gutters,  foundation, electrical, plumbing, exterior siding, vermin infestation, interior walls and finish. and you're confident that you can trust his word for it, then do it.

I remember two fire-escape break-ins in our apartment (we lived on the 4th floor), roach and rat infestations, and lots of the general chaos that goes on between neighbors of low socioeconomic strata.

Also even on mainland MA you will struggle to find a rental for under $1500 unless you're living in a crime infested area.

You will need to get rid of them before the place becomes infested.

Tenant agrees to be responsible for maintaining a clean environment to discourage pest infestation and agrees to report to Landlord any signs of pest problems in a timely manner.

The Code states, "[t]he tenant of a structure containing a single housing unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests in the structure or the premises," but for larger properties "[e]ach owner of a structure containing 2 or more housing units shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests in the structure or on the premises except where infestation within a housing unit is caused by a failure of the tenant to take reasonable action to prevent the infestation within the housing unit."

It is the responsibility of tenants too, to keep the rented unit clean to avoid any pest infestation.

That seems to be a huge problem in this country.That does not mean they deserve to live in crime infested warzones just that if they want central air and a dishwasher they should better themselves to pay for it themselves 

Ned Carey, meant to add, I was trying to avoid the shark infested waters of the local REIA, but I guess I'll have to wade in with my alligator bat by my side.