Renting is the best solution for workers from villages to cities, because they don't have enough money to buy it, and in my country to have a standard house, which the government provides through private companies, must have standard criteria, such as their salary in a city company , for $450 and must also be a permanent employee of the company. In addition, renting is lighter and with less financial responsibility and maintenance costs, as this is usually the responsibility of the landlord.
Renting, in my opinion cannot be said to be the best solution for workers that live in the rural areas and come over to the city for work as some would find it more affordable and cheaper to commute from their homes in the rural areas to work in the city. A lot of people do this instead of going through the hassle of renting a place in the city that the rent alone would probably eat deep into your little income.
Also, I don’t think renting is as light on the tenant as you make it out to be. The landlord obviously has some obligations to keep the house convenient for living so does the tenant is responsible to keep the house as it was met. Also, the light, water bills are on you as the landlord would obviously not pay for the utilities of a tenant.
Renting isn’t the best solution as I think there is actually no best solution. People are just inclined to do whatever works for them.