Check for lead paint before you start sanding and cleaning up the entrance prior to painting. If there's lead paint, consult with someone at your city's building inspection department about how to deal with it. Also, check to be sure there is no wood rot and that everything is solid. Charcoal and a bright door sound like good ideas but I am not a color expert. I would think about getting some electricity into the entrance for either an overhead light or house-mounted lights on the vertical posts beside the door. More prominent/visible house numbers would be good. What is it you are doing to the stairs?

Move the house numbers above the door. If the stairs aren't dangerous, leave them alone and make sure the handrails are secure. Since renters are not likely to take care of a garden, I would plant a low growing grass in that dirt area. Most of your windows look to be off white or slightly beige to tan. I would match porch paint (and any non-matching window trims) to that color to unify the look. Then paint the door in a traditional colonial color that isn't too bright since the porch style is classic. There are some pretty colonial blues, or you could put the charcoal there in a satin finish.

Your gray sounds nice, Paint the ceiling a crisp light blue. Move house numbers above the door and plant a perennial bed

Keep it simple and MAINTAIN. it's a rental after all. it may encourage the Owner to invest in it.

Why grey- it’s a beautiful classically detailed porch that would look best white. Replace the missing spindles and bottom rail. Great door color. Fix the steps. Paint the porch ceiling blue…

The white looks perfect and I would not repaint anything to charcoal. The peeling paint needs to be addressed and repainted. (As others mention, check for lead and handle appropriately.) I would fix the stairs and pressure wash as needed, but I would not cover with anything. Clean up the weeds growing in the sidewalk and plant something low maintenance in the dirt. It's a good looking house that just needs some maintenance, not a makeover.