> The main service landlords provide is maintenance.

Is that how it works in Europe? In Michigan, landlords mostly exist to prevent maintenance, and extract money.

A home needs so damn little maintenance. They're not providing that as a service. If the person owned a home maintained it - what fix a broken hot water heater for 600? And that's a reason to make more people required to rent?

Isn’t it something like $8K to replace the roof every 20-ish years?

Like $33 per month if it's 20 years, but the average is closer to 30 and can last as long as 50.