That sounds like the landlord’s now just never going to get anything fixed

Good point. Although, anything non-utility related is subject to the woes private equity not serving the public interest.

i.e. if you rent in an apartment building, this isn't an option in every city. Some local plumbers are NOT gonna touch the pipes on a corporate owned building. That kinda thing. All the way to where I have lived in a unit, had plumbing issues (thus the broken toilet analogy), and the case was such that the only plumber that would come to the building was the one that the building contracted out for the building.

In my case, this meant that my plumbing issues were known, unfixable, and fuck me. My recourse was withholding rent until the end of my lease, with only the obligation to pay what is owed if they prove the issue has been resolved.

Ultimately, this lead to them not renewing my lease.

I did get away with withholding and not paying 3 months rent. They still sent to collections, and I spent more than that fighting it.

I am now suing for damages.

Ultimately, I will win, but the stress is not worth the value of 3 months rent saved (+ "damages")