Landlords as the people who rent out places to live to other people are responsible for the house. It's not raw unimproved land. Houses need to be built. They're objects with many moving parts, subject to a lot of technical challenges, and code enforcement.

If you allow that object rental has a place in society, I struggle to understand how houses are not ethically the same as renting lawnmowers. You can be a predatory arse or a fair dealer about any rental situation.