An older property owner once told me that she had a $25 / month increase each year and most people see that as negligible over packing up and having to move. 

I've been included in the claim as the landlord to have negligently fail to have proper rules and regulations regarding dogs on the property.I hadn't heard anything about this April incident in 6 months until I received this complaint last week in November.

Seems most logical to return the deposit, unless the damage was caused by the tenants negligence 

This is caused by tenant negligence.

Some of it is pretty obvious landlord negligence (think, dripping bathtub faucet for so long the tub is turning blue).

@Lloyd Stein If you buy well enough or add enough value the refinance costs should be negligible.

From reading the internet, getting rid of pests with a cleaning service is the landlord’s responsibility if it was caused by negligent care of the house.

However, insurance is limited because it only protects you from one type of liability: accidents/negligence.

. $2K for water is someone negligence - whoever does the PM for the property.You can’t shut off anything and it’s your responsibility to pay the bill.

The only way a landlord could possibly be found responsible is if there was negligence involved.