We did have to recarpet one place and the owner just chose to eat that cost (only around $500 - he used cheap carpet), because of cigarette burns on the carpet. 

If it wasn't the govt, I wouldn't put up with it.Tenants will be okay with you coming in to check their smoke detector batteries and check for leaks every 6 months. 

Now you know their current landlord is a relative - no relative references  - denied.Also, you won't be able to tell which one is the one who smells like cigarette smoke.

I have been trying to get ahold of my current tenants for almost two weeks to do a scheduled smoke detector/maintenance check on the property.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, Termite Plates on the piers, wired fire alarms / smoke detectors, new breaker panel, arc fault breakers for all bedrooms and common areas, ground fault breakers for all wet areas ect. 

After he moved in he tells me he has asthma and the other kids smoke in the house.

The lump sum is smoke and mirrors to get into a better property. 

I am happy to report that they have NO EVICTIONS, no bankruptcies, okay credit scores, no criminal records, no smoking, no pets.

From a management perspective, multi-family is easier.For instance, when it's time to do your 6 month inspections and check smoke detectors, you're in one location.In CA, if you have 16 units or more, you have to have an on-site manager. 

There is also a page they sign that says they are out in 24 hours if there is any drug activity, and another stating if they want to grow their own medical marijuana (legal here) then they have to get their own liability insurance.Things I added include that the tenant is responsible for replacing light bulbs within their unit, they are responsible for clogged drains and my use drano, replacing a missing smoke detector will be $50, no flushing things other than human waste and toilet paper- no flushable wipes specifically.