I had a tenant call me 20+ within a hour because the porch light didn't work and they thought the entire electric box needed to be upgraded (the breaker tripped).  

Then you can explain them or, better yet, help them see for themselves that the best way to fix broken things or anything that's causing an issue is directly through you.

(In my case literally)As rents increase from year to year you can eventually upgrade, move on and rent your unit out.Good luck!

You get to purchase with minimal cash out of pocket and be able to do the upgrades needed to increase value and build some equity.

I put 80% furnaces in my units and upgrade to programmable digital thermostats if they are not already in place.

This can be send here off Woodward now with a light rail that has broken ground seen here>>>>http://detroit.curbed.com/2016/3/22/11284676/sneak-peek-construction-development-scott-at-brush-park

In fact, 80% of the use of funds from our flips went to upgrade existing or purchase new apartment buildings.  

They will look at if license laws were broken and criminals acts committed.

These folks are not really investors - they are motivated by paying less than it would cost for their child to reside in residence - and tend to overpay for the properties they acquire.To perpetuate the cycle, after their prodigy has finished university, these same parents expect to resell the house - to which they have affected no upgrades and little maintenance - for 5-10% more than the price they paid.  

Great question, but I just don't think there are any good answers other than it is a broken system, unfortunately.