You mention garbage, but in my area sewer is also a common utility provided by the government which a landlord would want to include in the rent and pay directly.

I'm also pretty sure that 2 of the tenants are getting government assistance and I think they are longer term tenants.After taxes, insurance and with the owner paying for heat and water the owner claims it is netting $20,000 per year.

I worked in local government for many, many years and know that there can be many layers and getting to the right person is critical.

It's a way to show empathy while also setting clear expectations for how rent can be caught up.Look Into Rental Assistance: There might be some local government or nonprofit programs that can assist tenants in these scenarios.

The county has very loose permitting/planning governance.

I can't picture calling someone in the Los Angeles government and getting a straightforward answer.Mid term rentals are quite interesting.

inflationary government policies have big consequences

If you invest in an area with local officials who think criminals are victims of society, you can't expect much help from the government.

See Nobel prize winner and associate  quote....Gunner Myrdal, an architect of Sweden’s welfare state who was given the Nobel Prize in economics as the left-wing balance to his co-winner FA Hayek:  Myrdal stated, “Rent control has in certain Western countries constituted, maybe, the worst example of poor planning by governments lacking courage and vision.”3 His fellow Swedish economist (and socialist) Assar Lindbeck asserted, “In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing.”Seattle is a prime example.

Having said all that, when you and your membership get above 4 (or 10 depending on the current rules) Fannie Mae loans, it makes sense to get LOCs against rentals because you can't get government subsidized long term money.