I'm talking a house that needs a few drywall holes patched, paint all the way around, maybe some carpet or a small area of laminate, plant a few bushes.

It’s the incumbent residents that suffer the most from rent hikes.

A couple months ago I was looking at a triplex that came up for sale in a close suburb,   long story short despite suffering from long term poor management, needing substantial exterior repairs, and having damage and 2 vacant and gutted units left over from tenants-from-hell it ended up selling to somebody else for 30% over asking,  needing another 20% of the asking price (at least) in repairs.  

Sellers are of course suffering from this.

As a result, our credit scores also suffered.

@Michael Plante here everyone I've talked to says 150-225/sqft for new construction is the going rate. 

Regular landscaping/yard care (mowing, edging, trimming, fertilizer, weed control) will be provided by ____(check one)____ [   ] Landlord  [   ]  Tenant .For all Tenants:a.Tenant agrees to keep yards, walkways, patios and decks clear and to keep premises free of junk and debris.b.Tenant accepts liability for all landscape damage and/or replacement of such, if caused by neglect, abuse or lack of water.c.Tenant may plant the beds adjacent to their dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are of appropriate size and type for the beds.All plants brought or caused to be brought to the property by Tenant will be cared for by Tenant.d.Tenant agrees not to cut or prune trees, hedges and shrubs.This will be Landlord’s responsibility.e.Tenant agrees to properly dispose of all plant debris and agrees to not leave such on the property.f.Landlord will consider special Tenant requests for planting and removal of plants, shrubbery and trees, but reserves the right to determine the make-up of the landscaping.g.Tenant agrees not to grow marijuana on the premises, indoors or outdoors.For Tenants of single family homes only: a.Tenant agrees to mow, water, and keep the grass, lawn, flowers and shrubbery thereon in good order and condition, applying fertilizers and weed retardant as needed. b.If Tenant fails to keep the landscaping in good order and to follow these guidelines, Landlord reserves the right to hire a landscaping service at Tenant’s expense (after a 10-day notice to perform covenant).c.Landlord reserves the right to restore the landscaping to its initial condition, as it was at the time Tenant began occupancy, or if improved during Tenant’s occupancy, to the level of such improvement.

However we don't suffer from the "I bought it for $789,000 and now it's worth $50,000 and I need braces for my kid" either though.

Planting them all over the county.

Plant vines on the fence.