The land lord might not even think about depositing your check, or he just lost it, your reaction might have annoy him.
Alternative: do pay-by-phone to pay a bill to use the check, if you have the record of the check number. Later on, if the original check is deposited and bound back, your bank may charge you some fee about the same amount as canceling the check. But you can argue with your bank that the check was writen long time ago, then your bank won't charge any.
Sue him? Why don't pay $30 (as you said) to cancel the check?
人在江湖,求財不求氣。