My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Missouri
My wife and I Saw a house of a couple who wanted to rent it out, on Oct 3rd. On the day we saw it we filled out an application not a lease or any type of agreement just a application to do back ground and credit checks. On that day we paid 1st months rent and Deposit via cashiers check and got a receipt for the payment and agreed we would move in Nov 15th. Today Oct 26th I found out I was going to be able to keep the house I am living in so I called the couple and informed them I was not going to move.
They wanted to only refund my first months rent but keep the deposit, this was not a deposit to hold the unit it was just the normal security deposit. I explained I understand their loss and I was willing to compensate them some amount but not 1000.00 worth. The receipt I have shows 3 line items 1: 900.00 1st month rent 2: 900.00 deposit 3:non refundable 100 pet deposit. I was and still am under the impression they should keep the 100 pet deposit, and hoped that since that's the only thing they wrote was non refundable I might have a chance.
I am wondering if it is going to be worth it for me to try to go to small claims court since I signed no contract, no lease, no nothing as all of that was to be signed when we moved in. I have been trying to look at the revised stature of my state but I can't find reference to this type of situation. The only thing I found is that if they are found to hold my deposit unjustly I can only claim at maximum twice the damages so in this case I think 2000 is the most I could claim. I don't want more then what I paid but if I go to court I would need an attorney, which could cost me more then what I could sue for.
Does the landlord have legal rights to keep my money given I have not signed anything? would I be fighting a hopeless cause in small claims?

