I suppose if you are renting an Airbnb then of course no one is going to ask for an income verification. But what if you want to live in a different state for a long while (1yr+)? Wouldn’t it blow your cover if a landlord tries to verify your employment by contacting your employer, as part of a standard lease application process?
Your company’s HR can usually generate a letter just saying that you work there. Why would a landlord need more than that?