Getting Deposit Back for Sublease - Do I Get It Back from the Sublessor or Management

[theonlyone83]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California

I rented a room from a woman on craigslist. I had an oral agreement with her for a month to month tenancy. I made all the rent and deposit checks out to the management company that she rented the condo from not to her. I am moving out do to problems with her. I found out that she was violating her lease or rental agreement by subleasing me the room without the approval of the management company. I do not know if she is on a lease or a month to month tenancy.

What I would like to know is since the management company cashed the check for the deposit and the rent checks for 11 months who is responsible for giving me back the deposit the woman or the management company?

The management company stated that they would not give me the money back because its against their policy but that when a new renter moved in they would refund the money to the woman that they have the agreement with even though she is not the one who paid them. Is this legal since she didn't write the check?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You get the deposit back from your landlord. If the woman from whom you rented is your landlord, even if she told you to make the checks out to the management company, she owes you the deposit.