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[giulio]

I lived in an apt for a little less than the year. My landlord was a total nightmare to deal with. Slow to make repairs or return calls, wouldn't follow up on complaints, etc. I than took a fall on slippery stairs and broke my tailbone, on the property. I contacted him to let him know and never heard back. Since I was without health coverage I had a huge medical bill, and he wouldn't contact me back so I had to get a personal injury attorney.

He only contacted me by letter after I got an attorney and he sent me letters ordering me out of my apapartment on April 30th. My lease wasn't due to expire until May 30th. He sent me the letter in February ordering me to move out in April. So I complied and made arrangements to move for the end of April.

Than on April 5th I received a duplicate letter telling me I need to move out by May 31. I contacted him and he said the letter from February saying the April date was an "error" and that I'm still responsible to May rent. I told him I will not be paying May rent since his letter ordered me out and I aalready had a new apartment and was set to move. After trying to argue with me about it, he eventually told me I could leave.

But now I have a new problem, he is now saying he has 20 days from May 30th to send me my security deposit. Rhode Island Law gives landlords 20 days from expiration of a lease to return a deposit. But my question is, since he ended my lease in his original letter, on April 30th, shouldn't he be returning it from THAT date? If I he doesn't try to keep it, but the apartment was in excellent condition and I have pictures to prove it...

I told him if I didn't receive it 20 days from the end of April I would be taking him to small claims court

[ardwyad]

Your lease has already terminated...it was rescinded by mutual consent of both parties...The clock started ticking when you moved out at the end of April...so...20 days after that, send a demand letter and sue him if he doesn't return the deposit.