Also, check the local fire code for the requirements for Extinguishers, smoke detectors, CO detectors, etc.

That's pretty normal especially if it in GTAHal:Any administration, legal or processing fees are typically taken out of the disbursement ... unless this is a new thing in the Big Smoke. 

Mitigants:  make sure the house doesn't look dreary/dark/creepy - with good exterior lighting. 

If you have a 3000 SF house for rent, it better not have a small dark kitchen.

A huge percentage of renters smoke, which can be quite expensive.

The two rental houses I went to this week were dark because these folks don't walk around and waste electricity.Reminds me of my grandmother.

I've been in the industry since 1990 and my family's RE business goes back to the late 1800's and we all agree that there's no near future relief from a deep and dark RE recession.

Otherwise, I am not going to shoot in the dark to try to convince you.

Would it be safe to use that lease and just change some things based on my choices (about pets, smoking, etc.) or do most people hire a lawyer to do one from scratch?

I looked at the last 4 months worth of articles and they were all negative, all arguing that the bubble exists and is dark and gloomy.If you say the focus is just on SoCal, the article you linked to argues that it is a national problem.