given that my situation of conflict with a landlord is common, what do most people do?

most people bullshit their references.

they give them a friend or family member's number, and just lie through their teeth about it.

so, this whole process of reference providing and reference checking largely reduces to the ability to get somebody to lie on your behalf. that's what an employer or landlord is really checking up on.

and, that's the actual problem i have - i don't have anybody i can get to lie for me.

but, how stupid is this? what is the purpose of determining if somebody can get another to lie on their behalf?

only capitalism, right?