My question involves a security deposit in the State of: New York
About six months ago i signed a lease with someone. She desperately needed a place to stay immediately. My lease did not expire until June 1st so we agreed that she would pay the full rent for the first month becasue my partner and i would not be moving in until then. In return, i agreed to pay the security deposit in full, because i knew it would be returned at the end of our lease. Recentlyl, we started having problems. I began looking for a new apartment, assuming i would lose my security if i terminated the lease early. After speaking my landlord, i was told i would have to convince my roomate to sign a new lease and release me from the current lease. I was unable to convincer her to release me. About a week ago i got a call from my landlord telling me that my roomate was going to move out instead and that my partner would have to be added to the lease for the remainder of the term. I was never asked by my roommate if i was willing to take over the new lease. She hadn't given the lanlord the exact date or even an idea of the date she would vacate the premises. On wednesday, i came home from work to find all of her belongings packed in the dining room. she was not home. On Friday, i came home to find everything gone with the exception of a few large items. There was a note from her father saying that she would return on sunday (today) to collect the rest of the belonings and the note also demanded a check for $300 in security owed to her. When she arrived this morning, she insisted i give her a check. When i refused and said i did not owe her anything, she insisted i did b/c i moved in on May 24th and not june 1st. She then said she would take me to court for the money. Does she even stand a chance of winning? She still has a key to the apartment and some of her belongings are still in the apartment. Can i counter sure for her share of the rent if she does not forfeit her keys and remove her things before the first of the month when the rent is due. She is still on the lease and i never agreed to release her. She was unwilling to release me so i feel i should not release her.

