Socially sterile rental accommodation

Rented accommodation, whether from private landlords or public housing agencies, works against the natural processes which allow people to form stable, self-healing communities. Rental areas are always the first to turn into slums: residents have no incentive to maintain and repair the homes since the improvements add to the wealth of the landlord, and even justify higher rent; landlords try to build rental properties which are immune to neglect; gardens are replaced with green asphalt or concrete, and trees give way to flowerbeds, as the landlord tries to keep his maintenance and repair costs as low as possible; and every attempt is made to make new units maintenance-free. Yet the sterile decor and industrial appearance of such dwellings encourages neglect or overt abuse, particularly by alienated youth, so the typical piece of rental property degenerates over the years.