What recourse do I have when a landlord wont make repairs?

The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act has  provision for putting your rent in escrow with the court and filing a Tenant's Assertion against your landlord when he has failed to make necessary repairs.  However, that procedure is only available to tenant's whose landlords fall under that act.  Small landlords who rent out fewer than 10 units (in some counties, fewer than 4) are excluded from the act.  So if this is the only place your landlord rents, you cannot use that process.  In that case, your best option may be to contact the code enforcement office for the county in which you live and have them come out to inspect and cite him.  You may also be able to seek an injunction in court, but that is a complicated process and it would be difficult for you to do that without hiring a lawyer. This answer is given in accordance with the laws of Virginia and may not be applicable in any other state.  It should not be construed as legal advice, as that would require a more thorough analysis of all of the facts involved in a specific case.  If you need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact my office for a consultation. Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.