Background: I moved into a place four years ago with a roommate. We both signed a one year lease. During that year the property owners moved and our lease was assigned to a property management company. The new "landlord" sent over a new lease to sign. I felt uncomfortable with several of the new lease terms and informed the landlord. That said, the new lease was never signed.
My first roommate got married and left the apartment. She asked the landlord for her deposit back and the landlord was unable to find our original lease. With a fight, she finally got her money.
A friend moved in to replace my roommate. The landlord sent her a lease to sign which she never did. The lease also separated the apartment into two contracts--one for each bedroom. The landlord let my friend use her security deposit as her last month's rent. After my friend left, I continued paying for only half the apartment. After a year of doing so, a new property manager came over. He told me that they were having trouble finding me a new roommate and if I wanted them to stop looking for one, I could pay a little extra rent. I took him up on the offer, because it was still substantially less than the original less than the original lease.
Fast forward to now...
Current problems:
Both of the property managers were terrible at maintaining the fourplex. The lawn went unmowed for several months... and things like leaking faucets, mold, fireplace maintenance, and a broken window (not my fault) went unfixed although I notified them.
I also notified the landlord about tenants drug use and alcohol abuse and nothing happened for over a year.
The landlord also advertised the basement apartment below me as having a washer and dryer. The w/d is mine and located in my designated storage area.
At any rate, I tried to fix and maintain what I could, paid my rent on time, etc. etc.
The heart of the problem is this:
In January, I found an incredible place to live and had to act fast. I signed a lease and started moving out of my apartment (errr... This is where I err.. I figured that since the landlord hadn't fixed my recent plumbing and mold problems and since I don't really have a contract on file... I didn't really give notice). The landlord left a message asking for rent. I had actually sent the rent check but as luck would have it, it had not arrived. I emailed the landlord stating I had moved out and would be cleaning the place over the weekend. I also told them I had found them a suitable renter (a friend) who would take over immediately, sign a lease, etc.
There was a big storm over the weekend and I decided not to clean so I wouldn't track mud over wood floors. Apparently the landlords went by at that time and saw some stuff (all of which was intended for charity) laying around. They told me I was responsible for rent until I cleaned it out.
I cleaned it out the next weekend and went on vacation until now. When I left, I emailed the landlord and told them the stuff was gone and that they could use my security deposit for any rent owed. I did neglect to return the key. When I came back home, there was a barrage of messages telling me that I owed rent and late fees until they received my key (not in original contract. is it a law?) or they would take me to court..
SO... I feel like this is a big mess with problems on both sides. I failed to give notice and return the key. They failed to fix things and failed to have a contract.
The landlords aren't trying to get me on the notice thing, though. They are trying to get me to pay rent for not returning my key or removing all my stuff. Can they do this? Is there anything they have done that I can counter their claims with to get them to amicably settle? I think they are threatening court just to scare me. I don't want to go to court, but I also don't want to pay 1 1//2 months back rent and outrageous late fees ($30 a day). Do I still have a contract? ETC. ETC.
please advise. someone.....

