Landlords

There are a lot of landlords that want references from possible tenants and by all means they should, but what about tenants rights to have references from the landlords, from their former tenants? I am not speaking of my former landlord, very nice person, but some of these landlords, are scum landlords, want a arm and a leg for rent,  the homes should be condemned, snow coming in from underneath a front door, termites, roofs caving in, bits on tenants children, a landlord lying about where he lives, bringing prostitutes to his supposedly residence, not showing his tenants the orginal water bill, refusing to give receipts for cash that he receives, and lets not forget about calling code on the landlord for numerous code violations!