Property tax winds up being cheaper per sq/ft of rental than on an individual home.

I hadn't thought about that.

maintenance is lower per sq/ft

This makes sense on a per repair basis. Is it still true when you account for the incentive misalignments between renters and landlords? For instance, moral hazard leading to more frequent repairs.

Also, landlords are incentivized to minimize costs, where owners maximize the utility of the occupant.