If they are laid on a cement slab, some moisture might be present under the slab and being pushed up through the cement and seams.

-a drywall guy to hang and finish sheetrock sometimes they'll also hang cement board for the tile guy. 

Attach your nailing stud to one flipped on it's side & shoot 2" nails into that one into the cement wall.

If a rental the building inspector will reinspect every year to verify it is safe (At their whim, smoke detectors, handrails, step height a little high this year, crack in cement, flowers don't jive with the neighborhood "aesthetic". 

What you have there is like what Nathan said, plywood subfloor on a cement slab with VCT on top of it.

That job consisted of tearing into the old cement, pulling up a few clay pipe sections and a few lead pipes that connected to the shower, sink and toilet.

.- New vanity in the 1/2 bathroom- new washer/dryer- new recessed lights- fixed the waste pipe- new electrical box- paint master bedroomPlans: - shiplap accent wall- might need a new stove; starting to go- new cement floor in basement- Bedrooms' carpets What was the outcome?

.- New vanity in the 1/2 bathroom- new washer/dryer- new recessed lights- fixed the waste pipe- new electrical box- paint master bedroomPlans: - shiplap accent wall- might need a new stove; starting to go- new cement floor in basement- Bedrooms' carpets What was the outcome?

Property was flipped 8 years ago and is in really good shape, so not too much:- New vanity in the 1/2 bathroom- new washer/dryer- new recessed lights- fixed the waste pipe- new electrical box- paint master bedroomPlans: - shiplap accent wall- might need a new stove; starting to go- new cement floor in basement- Bedrooms' carpets What was the outcome?

Pile drivers, cement trucks, cranes, jack hammers, endless pounding and endless buzz saws, (and loud mariachi music from boom boxes, which I actually like, but not everyone does--some of these guys really crank it up), etc...A good first move might be to talk to as many of the existing residents as possible and try to figure out what their pain points are, and why their neighbors moved out, vs. shooting in the dark for solutions based on guesses.Some talented Texas Mariachis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?