This piece might apply to huge US corporate landlords, but not to the vast majority of landlords who own 1-4 units.

I worked double time, lived way below my means and took a lot of personal risk to buy a rental property while I myself was still renting. If I couldn't pay the mortgage and defaulted, I would have lost all of my investment. Noone gave me that money or forced me to take that risk.

Saying landlords don't "provide" homes because they outsource things like maintenance is like saying parents don't raise their children because they send them to school.

I think if this article addressed laws to shield landlords unfairly it could be good. As it is, it is a naive screed that paints the entire world with an unfettered capitalist US brush.