As another member said, my own rentals are maintained at a standard that I would feel comfortable living in. I've never owned more than four units and currently only have two.
One owner I assisted in DC in the early 2000s had (at least) four fourplex units which I turned over for him around 25 times in five years. He had bought them as abandoned homes as part of one of those "house for $1" programs or at a similarly reduced cost back in the mid-90's. All were Section 8 and if I recall he was earning $850/mo per unit ($3400 per building).
The properties were within a block or so of each other with more identical units under similar use covering an area of a few square blocks. To the East and South, were similar properties and some mid-rise buildings, but all were abandoned and occupied by homeless addicts. Most vehicles on the streets were not operational, and on some of the blocks, abandoned vehicles were used to barricade the streets to prevent police vehicles from easily approaching.
I never saw the inside of some units, but others turned over every year or even less. Every single unit that I rented went to a single mother. However, as I think another member mentioned, there's always some drug dealing boyfriend. Far too often, these situations ended with a drug bust, mom getting arrested, CPS collecting the kids, and the Section 8 payments being suspended since the person on the lease is now in jail awaiting trial. That's when we begin the eviction and prepare to turn the unit over to the next tenant.
However, folks in the area learn of the arrest and the resulting damage to the apartment is somewhat predictable. Corner used as a urinal is uncommon. More common to find urine and feces on the walls and floor, signs of violence (broken doors, walls, windows). Garbage piled in rooms or hallway which is sadly often comprised of a lot of dirty children's clothing. Almost universally, the door has been ripped off the oven and often appears to have been used for some time in a doorless state.
Whether it's just people abandoning the property in a hurry or things were done maliciously (or some combination), it's just not that expensive to replace a few interior doors and carpets, patch some holes, replace some window panes, and install a new galley kitchen. Even the rat infested trash piles in the back yards were there for an understandable reason. Sure, there was a 3-yard dumpster in the alley, but who in their right mind was going to risk being attacked by rats (or people) going outside after dark in that area?
FWIW, I just looked at the area on Zillow and, those properties are each worth a fortune now.
These patterns must be highly predictable. Every single thing was my experience renting low income properties. I had over 30% of my units section 8 at one point. You’re right it’s not that expensive repairing superficial damages especially if you’re doing it yourself or with some other helpers. As I said before, that was the cost of doing business. Now these areas are turning as the neighborhoods become more mixed income resulting in less hassles with tenants.