unethical/unlawful landlord

I entered into a lease agreement for this property and paid the security deposit. More than three months before the lease start date, I notified the landlord that my hospital rotation had been unexpectedly canceled and that I would not be moving in. Despite this, the deposit was not returned within the timeframe required under New York law. The landlord initially claimed the deposit was “not refundable” due to alleged “lost bookings,” despite the property remaining publicly listed as available for months afterward and continuing to be updated on Furnished Finder. The listing later showed new availability dates and ongoing rental activity. After repeated follow-ups, the landlord acknowledged in writing that the full deposit would be returned, but later attempted to keep half of it while simultaneously threatening to pursue the full lease amount. As a result, I ultimately had to file a complaint with the New York Attorney General’s Office to recover my security deposit.