Absentee Landlord Help

[Chase London]

Im asking for my brother who is tenant. He moved into an apartment back in November 2016. Building is a 2unit he lives in the 2nd floor. Dec 19th a sink pipe burst on the 1st floor unit used by the landlord for storage and flooded that unit. The landlord then turned off the water from tge meter in the basement and my brother has been wothout water since Dec 19th. The landlord then told him that she isn't going to repair the issue so that his unit can receive water because she is letting the bank take the prooerty from her.
What option does my brother have? He paid Nov,Dec rent but not January after water still was never turn back on. What should he do because moving out in Winter is an issue for him with work. (he showers 2 doors down at mother n laws house).  I suggested he stays til weather breaks and save his money since landlord is basically letting the building foreclose and used his money to go shopping(she told him this LOL).