tbf, that's a direct consequence of the fact that tenants have overwhelming power under the law. Most places (and California and NYC I almost guarantee are at the head of the pack in this regard) give tenants so many powers over their landlord that you could just stop paying the rent and start filling the place with garbage and dealing drugs out of it and it'll take a full year to get rid of that tenant. Meanwhile you're on the hook for all the bills that rent is supposed to pay.