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.