keeping the rent low

In real life, it's unsavory, dangerous, or disgusting actions done in urban rental property - be intentional or unintentional - to deter new tenants and force the landlord from increasing the rent (as no one would normally pay high rent for an unsafe or unkept property, and the existing tenants stay because of the lower price). Online, it's a community's acts of exaggerated unpopular behavior as a way to gatekeep by attempting piss off and deter unwanted members and behaviors on purpose. Said behavior may not necessarily be how the community actually behaves.