I'm looking at 1,800 sf with a Modified Queen Anne Victorian style...

[Note: when referring to Multis above, I mean real, purpose-built apartment buildings (6+ units) and not old converted (pre)Victorian SFRs {we have lots of those around here as well}.]

They do not consider basic things such as the houses from 1890 to 1910 are Victorian and very desirable. 

If we want change, it would be more beneficial to abide by the law, collect a few thousand names on a petition and send it to our member of Parliament continuously like a direct mail campaign.

I recently purchased an old Victorian house that has no wall insulation and single pane glass.

I wished Sears would still be selling their beautiful Victorian house kits for a few thousand $.

While we purchase older properties (50 - 120yrs) as that is the inventory of the areas, all of our properties undergo a energy efficiency retrofit ... not merely installing electric baseboards and offloading the task of heating a 100 year old house with no insulation to the tenants.We also inspect our student properties quarterly {students never report issues}, fix any issues and damages as we find them, then bill the tenants immediately for anything for which they are responsible.If you use quality, durable - but not necessarily fancy - materials; have everything spelled out in your lease & house rules; and inspect your properties regularly, student properties can be very rewarding.The focus on the young professionals was based upon the part of the city in which we were looking ... we then renovated those units to be energy efficient, yet retaining some of their Second Empire and Victorian allure.

From our own homeownership of a 1870's big old victorian, we have become proficient in painting, trimwork, basic kitchen/bath updates, basic tile work, landscaping etc.

Look for simple designs: square or rectangular footprint, 2 story, moderately pitched roof, bathrooms in close proximity to each other for reduced plumbing costs.Drive by one of the big nationwide builders and look at their house designs, lots of 2 story boxes with simple roof lines.The only new construction project I've been a part of consisted of a Victorian house with round rooms and roof lines.

Many of the older buildings here (Second Empire, Georgian, Victorian) are ballon framed and spray foam is {arguably} the most cost efficient way to achieve air sealing of these structures.