1- YES if you signed a lease, then then can hold you responsible if they DON'T find a replacement.
2- If you DIDN'T pay the deposit, they had to find a replacement because you didn't follow through, then YOU are the one who CAUSED the lease to be broken, not them.
3- And YES, if you don't pay a deposit, MAKE THEM cancel the lease, then say "look, they cancelled the lease", then you are playing games.

