So, I've been dealing with crap with my apartment for... a while. I believe the issues have been known since November.

Basically, there are a multitude of problems, but the biggest one is for the heat (also including the electric). My roommate and I have 6 radiators (2 bedrooms, spare room, living room, bathroom and kitchen). The one in the kitchen works awesome, 2 are cold, and 3 are semi warm. I live in Pittsburgh, so it gets cold.

My landlord had been telling me it would get fixed, it would get fixed, etc. And we've had a freakishly warm winter, but it didn't last. New years-ish, when it was 4 degrees outside, I notified him that it NEEDS to get fixed. It was so bad, that I couldn't sleep because my nose was frozen.

He sent out some heat guys, they said they'd come back. A week after arguing, they come back and say it's a bigger problem than expected, and that when the boiler (furnace?) was replaced this past summer, it was done incorrectly and a the pipes need cleaned out, possibly re-done, and a whole hell of a mess. When I talked to the heat guys, they said "Your landlord put it on hold for now". That was roughly 2, almost 3 weeks ago. I immediately called him, got a really tense conversation (like it was MY FAULT the heat didn't work), and have not heard from him since.

I have an attorney now, who is helping us out for free (I have good connections, plus to be part of the PA law association thing - I forget the technical name - they have to take on x amount of pro-bono cases), and wrote a letter to my landlord and sent myself/my roommate a copy.

The letter arrived today, and I'm terrified. This guy is just not nice to deal with. Very rough about everything and not pleasant (anymore). I don't even know why I'm scared. I'm just scared. Scared of retaliation I guess?

I just want out. I want out so bad. I know that we're going through a weird heat wave right now, (it's like 46 outside), but we're going to get some cold weather again, and I'll move my crap out in a pile of snow. I don't even care. I hate this place.

So, I'm stressed to the point of not sleeping well, because having electric heaters running is scary. I have to unplug everything before I leave. I live 4 houses down from my landlord, so walking outside I'm afraid I'll see him and there will be a confrontation (6'6 huge Italian vs me? ). AND - I'm starting to regret the letter, because in my crazy head, I've turned myself into the bad guy, and it's so much easier just ignoring it and being a pacifist.

Anyone gone through this? Someone wanna tell me I'm an idiot and I'm doing the right thing? Just help calm me down. I'm going a bit nuts.

You are absolutely doing the right thing. I actually live about an hour so from Pittsburgh so I'm familiar with the weather. You cannot live without heat especially in that area. The landlord is wrong in this situation. Since the pipes weren't installed correctly wouldn't it be in the landlords best interest to contact the company that did the work for him so they can fix their mistake?

Do you have a signed lease or could you move at anytime?

For the time being I would invest in an electric blanket and some long johns and fuzzy socks to help with being cold at night or possibly sleep in another room.

best is to call the city and report him-they will make him fix it and he will be on notice that he cannot try any funny intimidating stuff on you. All city codes' require landlords to supply heat in the winter.

Where I live it's against the law for a landlord not to provide heat if the property has tenants. If they break this law they get a big citation/fine and a 'fix-it-ticket' which can land them in court if they do not address it. I would find out the laws in your area and consider reporting him. This isn't a personal thing between you. It's business. That may be the fastest way to get things fixed. Best of luck!

Do what the attorney advises, and if he gives you a choice, take the sterner path - lest this landlord cross-breeds with the human race.

When doing my research, I talked to the health department (in charge of heating issues with tenants and tied to housing court). They had and option I didn't care for. They would write my landlord a letter, give him time to respond, then send an investigator if it got worse. Which would have left me feeling even MORE paranoid.

We're down to 6 days, so far I'm alright.

When I talked to the lawyer, he said if I get housing court involved (via the fire dept, health dept, etc), it would add another authority to the mix. If I wanted to I could, but usually a letter from an attorney is good enough.

I know it's silly. I just get nervous. Really nervous.