What can tenants do if a landlord refuses to carry out necessary repairs?

Start by sending a formal written request (a legal notice, ideally) specifically detailing the required repairs and a reasonable deadline for the landlord to address them — this creates a clear record and sometimes prompts action that informal requests haven't.

Depending on the specific terms of your rent agreement and applicable state tenancy law, you may have options including approaching the Rent Authority or Rent Controller to seek a direction compelling the landlord to carry out the repairs, or in some jurisdictions, an option to carry out essential repairs yourself and deduct the reasonable cost from your rent, though this specific remedy varies significantly by state and should be approached carefully.

If the property has become genuinely unsafe or uninhabitable due to the landlord's neglect, this could also affect your obligations under the tenancy and potentially support you seeking to end the tenancy without the usual penalties. Document the issues thoroughly with photographs and dated correspondence before escalating, and consult a tenancy lawyer about which specific remedy is available under your state's law.