Sparky, I may just have to take you up on that!

I have one more thing to try today and, if it does not work out, I'll give you a call.

Thank you so much.

Bonny - have you determined what would make you stop trying to work with this landlord and move? When I was in practice, one of the reasons that I didn't take landlord-tenant cases is because, short of condemning a place and evicting everyone in it, a court can't really MAKE a landlord do things. Even when a tenant has rights that can be enforced, the ultimate remedy is money - which, generally, isn't what the tenant wants. Through a system of fines, the legal process can make it financially unpleasant for the landlord but I can't tell you how many landlords ignore court orders as much as tenant demands. I'm not trying to dissuade you from enforcing your rights but I do think that you should think about where your tipping point is for looking for other housing.

bonny, you really, *really* need to call the DCRA asap. You do not need a lawyer to do that. Request the apartment inspection. I'm slightly perplexed as to why you don't want to take that step. From what you've said the landlord has already done to "fix" your apartment, it does not meet the code requirements.

Have you tried the DC Tenants Rights Center? [link] Or the housing clinic at UDC?

Specifically, I need someone to tell my landlord that ignoring official communication does not mean he is not responsible for the content.

I don't understand why you need to tell him that. He is an adult; he should know that, and if he doesn't, it's not on you to educate him.

I NEED the landlord to at least fake responsibility

Why?

and, since he has suffered no consequence up until now, he thinks I will not follow through on my rights.

Hasn't he been ignoring your communications and you needs and your rights for about five years now? He's not going to turn around and become a responsive responsible landlord at this point, lawyer or no lawyer.

bonny, my dear, what would you tell one of your clients if she was living in a place so nearly uninhabitable she was forced to go stay in a hotel, and yet she was still trying, after many years of being ignored, to get her landlord to listen to her and fix the problems? I suspect you'd say something like, don't let your emotional issues cloud your vision of what you need to do for yourself right now. He's already proven he's not going to do what needs to be done to that house. I dislike telling people what to do, but you need to leave, now, and find another place to live asap. You're not getting what you want from your landlord, period. If he owes you money, you can take him to civil court (I think, IANAL), but getting the house fixed properly is pretty clearly a lost cause. Cut your losses, say good-bye to the perfect location, tell your landlord you're not giving him another penny, and get out.

I sincerely appreciate everybody's support...and Sparky, I will be in touch tomorrow.

I get that I held on too long. Reasons.

I am not doing that anymore, I swear. Aaaand. I don't have an alternative today, but you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Wish me luck.

Sparky, I will be in touch tomorrow

Okay!

{{bonny}}

Yeah, JZ, I agree.The one time that I got smacked when I was in high school, I think I was acting like that. Some people don't grow up that much. Mom says stocking and stuff are hard but she still prefers it to hearing the latest crap from Glenn Beck every day from the one reactionary ELL teacher in America.(also, the students had changed from Mexicans to, like, African refugees, child soldiers, and the like. It's just harder now.)

I do not have the spoons to deal with how incompetent doctor's office is being today.

bonny, all sorts of housing~ma headed your way. I'm sorry this is so difficult.