This is when the internet is a magical place. Check out these poor, enraged tenants' site. They have cataloged their landlords egregious offenses, in an attempt to warn off further tenants from living there.
They've also created a database for people all over the country to post warnings about their evil landlords. There are only a few, so help them out:
Another interesting aspect of the site is the link to this page. This is a New York City page where you can see any housing violations your landlord might have. There must be similar pages in major cities across the country. It's truly wonderful when the internet combines with transparent government to provide easily obtainable information for the public good. It warms the cockles of our hearts.