You are now doing the same "not reading" that you accuse (in some cases with justification) others of doing.  

The justification to your wife to raise rents would be that your costs of ownership will continue to rise each year (yearly tax & insurance increases, repair/maintenance/CapEx escalation over time, etc).

It is natural for them to create justification for their decision to invest for appreciation.

Then there's no question of amount of profit justification.  

The other justification to ask for credits is if it costs considerably more then expected for some reason.   

It was the advice given to me by the Maryland real estate attorney that I work with, and his justification was the liability protection is well worth it in a litigation happy environment.

I see a lot of justifications here about raising rent based on "being a business".

I have had two family pass from COVID-19 and they would turn over in their graves if they thought I exploited their deaths as some sort of emotional justification like you’re trying to do here.

Cool, cool.If you need justification for how I possibly could have come across this post innocently after 8 months....  

South Holland, Chicago Heights, etc, are NOT great areas and you apparently don't know it.The fact that people get off a bus and love the finish of the rehabs is not a justification that they're great deals.