Landlord Is Not Collecting My Rent Even Though I’ve Made Efforts To Pay

I have been in this interesting situation for a while now.

I signed a lease for an apartment in NYC beginning March 2022. The exchange of rent money to my landlord was done through a payment portal he had setup via Apartments.com. It was all very straight forward: login, it shows that rent is due, linked bank account , would pay.

As the first year ended , I reached out to extend the lease and to have this means of exchange setup again in order to pay. He would respond to me acknowledging , and say he would set it up, but he has never set it up.

I am 2 weeks into March 2023 and ask him again, similar answer. I then follow up again in April 2023, same answer. August 2023 same answer. March 2024 same answer. He simply seems too lazy or forgetful to collect this money.

March 2025 will begin my third year not paying. All of this money I have not spent, it’s been parked in a high yield savings account earning 5%.

I am wondering at what point would it be legally clear that I am not intentionally withholding this? That he is somewhat negligent in his practice ? I’ve come across a statute of limitations online regarding back pay rent. I see it was 6 years, but some sort of amendment in 2023 dropped it down to 3?

My attempts are all documented via text screenshots that I emailed to myself.

What I am most curious about is if there is a scenario where I don’t need to pay the full sum or any money at all?

Again if he got his shit together and asked for the $ tmrw I would give it, but if he continues to not set up the means of exchange , why would it fall on me as the tenant after making a number of attempts already? Is this a potentially danergous legal situation for myself ? Can the landlord be scamming me somehow?