Originally Posted by Freedom
As a renter, you have several options which you could explore. Check with your local city / town government, find out about renters' rights. explain the situation. Normally, you can't just withhold an amount of a bill from rent without ending up in trouble yourself.
This may easily be a health issue, which requires her to fix it asap.
But if you find out where things stand, without filing a complaint, this can give you a stronger argument to present to her to do something now, or to let you get it done and deduct the amount from a rent payment.
Landlords have certain responsibilities. What was she gonna do if the new tenant had kids????? Or was she not renting to them, which isn't legal but not your concern now. I'm just pointing out that this is why you may have some legal support in your corner.
You should be able to find out most of what you need to know by phone, so you can keep moving on this.