It depends on your jurisdiction but landlords should be held responsible for all safety items in a rental.

More safety and local amenity focused more than anything, which I think great renters look for as well.

I understand the beauty of leverage now and will def try to balance between supplying my safety net and having enough cash to pursue the next deal.

As an example, In AK, those general commercial loan requirements are:Cap rate of 8% or higherDSCR of 1.25 or higher Two years Schedule C tax returns of property.Inspection with all health and life safety either repaired or escrowed for repairs to be completed within 6 months.20% down with seasoned funds (in your account for over 90 days).Credit score of 620-640 or above.Obviously there are other minor underwriting guidelines depending on the funder, but commercial loans can be great.

I jumped from safety, into the frying pain and straight into the fire! 

The banks didn't lose money and investors saw that and this time around are not going to be nearly so scared of letting investment properties go which again is going to create buying opportunities for you sitting in the safety of your free and clear home.  

I don't want to have a wobbly knee patient fall and sue me just as much as I don't want to have a homebound person with a failed surgery recovery to take care of.I do have to think about the utilities here too since it's a "bills paid flat rate room" if someone will be home 24/7 for weeks, since now I leave the heating off 10+ hours a day since no one's home during the business day now.

I'd make sure that he's looking at solid comps, and then be patient.

Stay patient and your property will come! 

I lived in Germany for a while and appreciate the strong social safety net and lengthy vacation times.