I believe some of these newer payment options depend on the tenants you attract/want to attract to your place.  

You tend to attract the transient tenants also who pay a few months and then have to evict.

@Trey Leigh I'm a military spouse; the officer's wives I've met are all attracted to the Wiley school district.

It does sound like you have a terrible tenant but from reading your post it seems like this is the kind of tenant you will continue to attract with the property the way I read the description.  

When water sits, it could attract something that wouldn't normally be there. 

In addition, adding a fence can potentially attract more tenants when your property is vacant if potential tenants have a dog and are looking for a fenced backyard. 

The cross joists that support the railing are "climb-able" which also means that the if a toddler climbs up the railing they can fall down the other side.If you want a super cheap option, knock the whole thing down and just put stairs to the door. 1 days work and a trip to the dump to knock down and perhaps one more day to put up the stairs.Otherwise I'd look at building another deck there that would attract tenants.

I tell my property owners that I don't want to be the cheapest in town because you may not attract the clientele that will take care of your place.

If you ask for rent roll documents, they can be forged or not up to date (mine were not up to date).I wouldn't remodel AT ALL, unless the area is substantially changing and a remodel is required to attract a different clientele.

= my fault Have I given them too much leeway and now it's causing excess stress on my part = my faultdid I buy a property in a warzone that attracts tenants with little to no redeeming qualities and I'm not willing to put up with the pain?