Unfortunately It's been a constant stressor due to the anti-landlord culture and laws in the city.

Tack on the anti-landlord laws that CA is trying to pass ("Justice for Renters Act") and it just didn't make sense from an investment prospective for me. 

(anti) social media

Considering the local anti landlord laws what would be the best way to handle this to avoid any potential issues from the legal perspective?

I would determine if the new CA anti-squatter law applies (do the research now).  

The house is 100 years old and it looks like holey hell, to the point where the city starts to get involved and we (investors) get slammed in the news for running down neighborhoods generating a anti-landlord sentiment we really don't need.

The shower wasn’t hot (I looked at anti scald it was to low.

From what I have seen in Colorado Springs, the lease only tends to range from half a month's rent to a full month's.Keep in mind, Colorado is coming out of a very anti landlord legislative session and you will have to stay in compliance with the changing laws.

So one evening at about beer-thirty I looked over the shoulder at my friend who like me had this REI itch but always without action and I said "well hell, half those doing it are morons, we can be just as stupid as anyone else, I'm done with this, I am doing it and your gonna help me, done, end of story, if I fail at least it will be in flames of glory instead of sitting the sidelines". 

You do need to use anti-spam tech to not hey blocked though.