Take photos.Generally, if the issue is a habitability issue, the landlord has to fix it asap. 

It's a legit defence for the tenant to say you are in hardship because of your financial habits not their late payment and you are now inviting the court to scrutinize how you conduct your financial affairs.Personally not only would I not be going there, but I wouldn't ever try to enforce the late fee clauses I have in my leases. 

Then they may start trying to pull the habitability card or anything else they can think of to try and force you to keep them at a lower rate.  

What I'm getting at is that I believe you will find that most experienced investors have a habit of thinking through the entire life cycle of the investment, from their entrance all the way to their exit, and typically want multiple exit strategies so that they can still win even if things don't go according to plan A.

Only you can know what it's worth to you to live in a junky old house.Just know that if you call the building inspector in, and he/she says the place is not habitable, they can simply tell you you have to move out.  

It's just that some vital aspect of our character has changed that values show over substance & appearing bigger than ourselves.

A lot of Chinese guys will also have the habit to smoke indoors, if that is not what you want, also make it clear to them. 

., i noticed digging into the language, that only part B contains the words "extension term:(1) During the initial lease term, other good cause for termination of tenancy must be something the family did or failed to do. (2) During the initial lease term or during any extension term, other good cause may include: (a) Disturbance of neighbors, (b) Destruction of property, or (c) Living or housekeeping habits that cause damage to the unit or premises.(3) After the initial lease term, such good cause may include: (a) The tenant’s failure to accept the owner’s offer of a new lease or revision; (b) The owner’s desire to use the unit for personal or family use or for a purpose other than use as a residential rental unit; or (c) A business or economic reason for termination of the tenancy (such as sale of the property, renovation of the unit, the owner’s desire to rent the unit for a higher rent).the higher rent part - can't a landlord just decide they want to rent it out for a higher price?

Thomas S. is absolutely right in the advice he's given you.Never get into a habit of picking up rent.

They'll start complaining about things regarding habitability, etc., looking for legal ways out of the lease.