Real Estate Attorney NYC | Full Security Deposit Recovery

The client had entered into a fixed term residential lease for an apartment in New York and paid a substantial security deposit at the commencement of the tenancy. 

Approximately four months prior to lease expiration, the client formally notified the landlord of intent not to renew and coordinated a clean and orderly vacate of the premises. 

After surrendering possession and returning keys, the client made multiple written and verbal requests for the return of the deposit, but the landlord neither provided an itemized statement of deductions nor returned any portion of the funds, creating a clear basis for legal action under New York landlord tenant standards.

Tenants may pursue several procedural options depending on the landlord’s conduct, including formal demand letters, summary proceedings, or full civil actions seeking monetary judgment. 

If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide a lawful itemized explanation within the required timeframe, courts may presume wrongful withholding.

Additional remedies may include prejudgment attachment or asset restraint where there is a risk of dissipation, ensuring that any eventual judgment is collectible and not merely symbolic.

First, the attorney demonstrated that the tenant had clearly and timely communicated intent to terminate the lease and had vacated the property without breach or damage. 

Second, the landlord’s repeated delays and lack of any itemized deduction were framed as intentional avoidance rather than administrative oversight. 

Third, the attorney documented the tangible financial and logistical harm suffered by the client, including disruption to relocation plans and ongoing uncertainty caused by the withheld funds, reinforcing the need for judicial intervention rather than further informal negotiation.

The client received complete repayment of the security deposit pursuant to court order, bringing final closure to a dispute that had persisted well beyond lease termination. 

This outcome underscores how early involvement of a real estate attorney NYC can convert a frustrating post tenancy dispute into a decisive and enforceable result. 

For tenants facing similar circumstances, the case demonstrates that New York courts strictly enforce deposit obligations and that strategic legal action can prevent further financial loss.