We had the mentality "I am sure there credit is bad so why bother checking."

I also believe in the abundance mentality and finding that in common within this community is one of my favorite aspects!

So I'm mentally more inclined to take risks than most landlords are. 

Umm.... really hard to believe that no one has mentioned Formica which is by definition THE most amazing bang for your buck counter top material that fits all the criteria for medium priced rentals  : Durable, versatile, economical, long wearing, economically replaceable, low maintenance.  

Although, I do love the idea of someone who can support my goals and help pave the way rather than adding mental road blocks.

The owner isn't dead but appears to be suffering from dementia + addiction (ain't that a mental illness now).  

The parent choosing to keep the temp at an unsafe temp with children could be a sign of mental health issues and they may need to take the children away to keep them safe. 

Do local real estate market research so that you understand local culture, dynamics and business mentality, before purchasing anything.

https://www.nsarco.com/emotional-housing.htmlOne thing that stuck out at me, that may be why your friend is getting some push back is that the doctor letter has to be from a mental care provider, not just any doctor.Hope that helps.

Such documentation may come from a physician, a psychiatrist, a social worker, a counselor, a case manager, or some other mental health professional or practitioner who has treated or worked with the person who is claiming to have a disability, and such documentation should establish that [1] such person has a disability, and [2] the animal in question will provide some type of disability–related assistance or emotional support so that the tenant can enjoy his/her housing.