The PO might have had a problem with the section 8 program. Which I can understand. If your place is not to there code, they will stop payment and make you fix all problems. They dont mess around.

If you have a new place its not much of an issue.

If the landlord gave her a good reference, whats the issue? we can discusss it by PM.

The house was built in '97. Hope that's new enough...

Yes, that should be fine.

Its not like they are going to make you build some walls or dig a pool. Its stuff like fix cracks in the walk, change to the correct locks, correct elect. outlets, no loose stairs. All the stuff that really should be done anyway.

Lots of landlords don't want to do repairs. Its really not a big issue. It only comes around maybe once a year,twice at the max. If you had any major problems you wouldn't have any sec 8 in the first place.