They are on a court and have wedge shaped property lines.  

If the owner goes to court, the court will have the case dismissed because the owner has unclean hands.

Housing court judges make their own laws, and security deposit requirements are designed to trip up the landlord and provide triple damages to the tenant.

BTW, while at UH Manoa (Im an alumni), if you like Indian Food , check out my restaurant on campus in Paradise Palms food court India Cafe. 

This issue combined with an unrelated bad investment and her husband's medical issues and subsequent job loss - it really was a perfect storm of crappy things for her -  and she ended up declaring bankruptcy and sold her properties (she only had 2 besides her own home).  

Hi BP members,I am running the number of my first potential RE investment, a duplex which was converted to fourplex at Vernon area, Los Angeles 90011 (not the best area...).The issue for me begins here, it's a private property, which I am not super families with as far as the main thing that need to get my attention when going forward with the deal.The court auction will take place on 9/11 so the clock is ticking.I would greatly appreciate some tips from more experienced investors.Thank you

Find someone creative and that has experience in the real estate landlord tenant courts.

Some situations permit a simple act of filing a document and getting it approved by the court so that title can be transferred, which is called a summary probate in some jurisdictions.

Every court house is set up different. 

Eviction court was simple!