This can be very effective, but pissing off your landleech is not without its risks.

More generally I might suggest learning your rights. If you live in the US, I might suggest Nolo Press’ website and books. Depending on where you live, you may be able to fully or partially withhold rent for failures to repair.

I don’t have much personal experience with this, but getting to know your co-tenants may also be useful. If you take this idea far enough, you may even be able to work as a bloc: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenants_union

Lifeprotip don’t antagonize your landlord unless you’re dragging him to a guillotine

You’re lucky you didn’t get evicted instead.

Most landlord types take the Lord part too far, and their fragile egos see any disagreement or conflict as personal assaults to their divinity.