I wrote a check for a deposit on a rental house here in kentucky; then the owner says she will meet me the next day with a lease because she doesn't have one with her... I tried calling her for the next 4 days at her home and cell leaving messages for her to please call me back; I didn't want to rent a house before seeing the lease to make sure it was acceptable. She also starting adding things (work on the house she wanted me to do; but I am on disability). Long story short she cashed the check before ever letting me see a lease. She also wanted more money for rent on the house although the house was not even ready and she couldn't give me a date on when the men working on the house would be finished. I asked for my money back and she said No. What do I do for recourse?

Contact an attorney and ask him to inform the landlord you plan to sue for treble damages

You issue and problem is that you gave them the money without any signed documents, and basically entered into a verbal contract for rental.

Lesson learned never give them a penny unless you first have, reviewed and signed the lease or any contract. Then and only then do you give them the money.

You can sue for the money back because the owner has refused to furnish a lease agreement as promised

It also depends on what the deposit was for and whether it was indicated as refundable or not.