Pet damages have been rare for us and owners were mostly very forthcoming and willing to pay. 

You should be asking for the lease, estoppel, and verification of all of the expenses that the owner pays for.

But, I see that is not everyone's experience, especially as the owner.

I became aware of a mobile home park that was for sale by owner.

As the owner, you may want to eat the cost since future tenants will likely make the same mistake.

As an owner you need to stay out of it .

I suspect that short term rental returns have declined due to oversupply and some short-term rental owners are switching their properties over to long-term rentals.

Also at closing: You should provide your lender with a lender's title insurance policy, separate from your owner's title insurance policy.

@Michael Smythe speaking as both someone who owns rental properties that we self-manage, and a manager for other owners, I think' you'd have a tough time going after the property management company. 

The property owner uses the money to pay off as much of the mortgage as possible.