[babygambino77]

I subletted and app from a woman about one year four months ago. Initinally She told me she paid three ways to move into the app, but because she knew my then boyfriend really well she said she will only charge me two ways. The rent she told me was 800 dollars. Prior to moving I gave her 1200 dollars cash and told her that I will give her 100 dollars extra every month until the deposit was paid off, which the balanc ewas 400 dollars. Every month I droped off a moneyorder for the rent, her mails and the extra for the deposit. Everything went smoothly for the whole year.
Problems started when the lease had to be renewed. She told me the new lease came and that the rent had gone up to 925 dollars. I told her well if it is, no problem I'll pay it, but can I have a copy for my records . The woman went crazy she told me that I have no rights to ask her for the lease and further more, That I have been opening her mails. She told me that she wants back the apartment and that she will press charges for opening her mails.
I did some research and found out form the supperintendent that the rent for the appt I have been living in for the past year is not 800 dollars it is actually 748, I also found by obtaining a copy of the lease that the new rent was 873 and not the 925 she told me.
I confronted her with the information I had and her response to me was that she did not have to rent me the appt, someonelse wanted the appt and she could have gotten 1000 for it, so me paying 800 was just in csae I fall back in rent. I then asked her what was the deposit for, she said for the appt and that it is dead money I cannot get it back.
I told her if she wanted me to move she will have to give me back my deposit.
My question is what can I do to keep the appt, and if I cannot how do I get back my deposit, and does opening the light and electric bills to pay them, make me a felon.

[ScottGem]

First, please pay more attention to posting guidelines. I moved this from the Forum Help area where there is a bold red Read First post that states that forum is only for questions about using this site.

First, it doesn't matter one bit what she was paying for the apartment. That is absolutely no concern of yours. You agreed to pay what she was asking. She is your landlord and if she wants to make a profit, she's legally entitled to.

Second, if you have a copy of the lease, read it carefully to see if it permits sub-letting. If it doesn't, you may be able to go to the actual landlords and see if they will rent the apartment to you directly.

If she is allowed to sublet, then you have no recourse. If you don't want to renew on her terms or if she decides to not renew there may be little you can do about it. Though that may depend on where the apartment is.

If you move out and you have proof you paid a deposit, then she will have to return it according to the laws of your area. Or you can sue her for it.