Maybe I’m just too old to be intimidated by landlords any more. The lengths they must go to for evicting a tenant, then advertising for new one, checking them out… well, they don’t want to do that at all, ever, unless they need a spot to stash the mistress on the cheap dime.
Your lease either states that the landlord will provide for essential repairs, or it doesn’t. If it does state that, and he doesn’t, even after numerous attempts, then get it done and enjoy your showers harm free. With a proper lease, and reasonable leniency for allowing him to fix the problem, you would find favor in small claims court. If it doesn’t state that, then you’re at his mercy or on your own to make repairs at your cost. Plumbing issues are usually part of the landlord responsibility. Odd if it wouldn’t be.
Is there not a person in your life that could accommodate this repair as a friendly favor? At least charge the landlord for the parts and a pizza for a friend to do the work. Don’t ask the landlord for permission to start your days without hassles. Tell him you plan to live life as expected when you became his client.
Trust me… if he’s not the kind of guy who can make this repair quickly and efficiently… then he’s not the kind of guy who will go through the hassles to kick you out for such a minor cost on something which definitely needs repair.
Good luck either way. And sorry to be so frank about my opinions on this. My mother was just suffering through a similar issue. Repeated promises and attempts for landlord fix proved unrewarding. Weeks passed without attention deserved. And although he bitched about losing $200 for a tub repair that he had plenty of opportunity to address, in the end, that was the worst of it. I have little patience for landlord jerks who don’t respect their clients.