That sounds like a really hard two years. But I dont know if you can blame it all on the fact you are renting. First off, even if you had owned your home, there is no reason that a “FRAT/NASCAR” house couldnt have been your neighbors. As you said, they moved in a month later than you. I have had bad neightbors before, but owning wont help you avoid it. That is just bad luck. Plus had you owned rather than rented, it would have been very hard to get away from them. I am sure you had great neighbors before, but there is no reason that one of them couldnt have done what you did, sell, and then who knows who is moving in.
The utility bill also isnt really due to the fact that you rent, more to the fact that you rented a huge place. I am sure alot of that $500 bill was A/C, and if you have been living in valencia for 20 years with A/C in the summer, than you should be use to paying through the nose. That is the trade off for being able to live in a 2000+ square foot house. Ill bet those vaulted celings and extra large master bedroom sounded great when looking at the place. (Assuming that is what you got for 2500+/month brand new place if not, then please excuse my inference). Anyway it goes, you will pay for what you get.
As for your current landlord, it sounds like it was a good year until they fell of the face of the Earth. You sound like you would have renued if you could have. So 11 good months and one frustrating one. Not a bad %.
It wont really help since you already have somewhere to go, but if you ever have to move again, ask how long the landlord has owned the property. If the answer is 2003-2007 and is being rented out, it is a spec property and will have this kind of problem, especially in a down market.
On the bright side, just think of the money you have selling at the top, hopefully investing at a safe ~5%+ return, and letting someone else take the finacial hit. That should help alleviate some of the pain.
I dont mean to discount your frustration, I am sorry you had to go through all that, but alot of what you are complaining about isnt really a problem of renting, more a problem of bad neighbors and unexpected bills. The Second LL is just weird, and the fact that it is happening alot is something that should be looked into by the local news. I hope you have a great experience at this new place. Enjoy the $$$$.