Landlord won't return security deposit

[qtip4080]

I am in the middle of trying to get my security deposit back from my landlord. The apartment I lived in was in Brooklyn, NY. Since we had an informal pay-by-the-month agreement no lease was signed. Upon agreeing to live there I handed over a check for two months rent plus the security deposit (also equal to one month's rent) and was given a receipt. However as of now it appears that I misplaced the receipt and cannot find it (really stupid on my part I know). The one thing I do have is a recorded phone conversation between him and I where he said he would mail the security deposit to my parents' home address. However that was two weeks ago and I have still not received anything in the mail from him. If I am not able to locate the receipt is there any hope for me to fight this in court?

 

[Theresagail]

A copy of your canceled check is a receipt

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Keep in mind that unlikely most states which are quite specific on when a security deposit must be returned to the former tenant, New York only requires it be returned within "a reasonable amount of time".

Gail

 

[qtip4080]

A copy of your canceled check is a receipt

I have a copy of the first check I wrote to him (the security deposit + two months' rent) stored on my online banking account, is this what you are referring to?

 

[sfitz]

You should have a copy of all checks, that way you can show what is deposit and what is rent. I would wait until the end of the month and then contact the landlord and say you have not yet received your deposit.

 

[emorgan0831]

If the state of NY says it just has to be a reasonable amount of time, maybe you should call the court clerk and ask what a reasonable amount of time is...is it 30days, 45 days, 60 days.......???