So other commenters have opinions that I think are rational, but the part that I think is key that they're missing: Tenant Unions.

I have some (in my opinion) tyrannical yet lazy land lords/property managers at my current apt, and have attempted to form a tenant union. Apparently no one agrees with my level of disgust at our treatment, so I've kind of wiffed at the effort.

Which is to say that it takes real work, but it can be done and there are resources for you, but that's the first step: don't go alone.