Sounds like the landlords a hoarder, there's no chance that type would even give you a rotten tire from his 'stash' of vintage bikes. I would find some time no one's home and go on a exploratory dig, then liberate the bike of your choice. Move out shortly thereafter.
It does suck the guy doesn't donate those to a bikes program. I've known plenty of people with the same hoarding mentality. Us crazy Americans, we have so much stuff we don't even know what to do with it all.