As opposed to living expenses artificially inflated, despite the landlord not putting one iota of work into their property? (Because the neighbourhood gentrified, a new school was built with taxpayer money, Amazon opened an office..?)

Property markets are perverse in many different ways, most of which don't benefit renters.

If exogenous factors make an area more desirable to live in, increasing demand and the market-clearing rent, that’s not “artificially inflated” IMO. The landlord is (or at least should be) exposed to the vagaries of supply and demand in the downward direction as well as the upward.