I recently moved out of an apartment in New York City, and my landlord is refusing to return my $2,500 security deposit. The landlord claims that there was significant damage to the apartment, but the damage was already there when I moved in. I took pictures of the apartment before I moved in, but I'm not sure if they are enough to prove my case.
What does the lease say?
The lease agreement states that the security deposit will be returned within 30 days of moving out if there is no damage to the apartment. It also states that normal wear and tear is expected and will not be deducted from the security deposit.
Have I taken any steps yet?
- I have emailed the landlord to dispute the charges and provided the pictures I took before moving in.
- I have also requested an itemized list of the damages and the cost to repair them.
- I have looked into the laws in New York regarding security deposits.
What are my options?
1. Take the landlord to small claims court to recover the security deposit. - This would require going to court and could be time-consuming and expensive. 2. File a complaint with the New York State Attorney General’s Office. - This could result in an investigation into the landlord’s practices. 3. Seek mediation or alternative dispute resolution. - This could be a less adversarial way to resolve the issue.
Can you please advise on the following?
1. What are the specific laws in New York regarding security deposits? 2. How strong is my case given the pictures I took before moving in? 3. What is the process for filing a claim in small claims court in New York City? 4. Are there any other steps I should take before proceeding with legal action? 5. How can I prevent this from happening in the future?
