I paid Damage Deposit for a place I had wanted, My wages got cut down at work so I could not pay full month all the time. I have no even moved in yet and the landlord will not return Damage Deposit back to me. What should I do? Is there anything I can do?

Hello a:

There's not really anything you can do. The landlord took his place OFF the market and your deposit is to compensate him for doing that. It IS fair. He MIGHTA found a tenant who could have paid, and he has a mortgage too.

excon

Hope they do not hold you to the lease or rental agreement and want you to pay the rent till they find a new renter. They are entitled to a full months rent ( or until they rent it) If they rent it out in a week, then you would only owe the one week rent

It depends upon where you are. In NY (for example) a deposit on an apartment is one thing (you pay some of the money, the balance is paid when you move in). A DAMAGE deposit is something else - if it is purely a guarantee against damage the landlord cannot keep it unless there is damage. Of course, you haven't damaged the property because you haven't moved in.