Need your security deposit returned in NYC? A new chat bot can help

You did it. You dodged scams, trekked to packed apartment tours, found an agent who actually responds to your texts, and forked over thousands of dollars for a New York City rental of your very own. But you're still sweating, because you haven't received your security deposit from your old place, and you're counting on that money to make your next rent payment.Whether it’s $1,500 or $5,000, plenty of NYC renters have horror stories about losing a security deposit to a recalcitrant landlord. The New York State Attorney General received around 5,000 complaints in 2023 and 2024 from New Yorkers trying to get their deposits back. Now, there’s a new way to pressure your landlord into returning the money they owe you.Tom Martin, CEO of the legal tech company LawDroid, launched an online chatbot that can help New Yorkers draft a letter to their landlord to demand the return of their security deposit. “My hope is that we help a lot of people get their own money back,” Martin said. “It’s just a sick feeling when it’s your money and someone is holding it hostage. If we could free them of that fear and anxiety, that would be why we’re doing this work.”Depositron, as Martin dubbed it, can also answer basic questions about tenants’ rights based on a few specific documents, including the Attorney General’s Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide. But it can’t help you with everything; for example, Brick Underground found that it couldn’t answer questions about the legal cap on application fees (usually $20) and when a tenant is now required to pay a broker fee (only if they hire the broker—thanks to a new law). With any chat bot—or other generative artificial intelligence tool—it’s important to proceed with caution and to fact-check the answers an AI model gives you. As Depositron’s home page notes, it’s not a lawyer, and it cannot give you legal advice. But Brick Underground found it was helpful at quickly drafting a letter formally asking for your security deposit back—a good step to take if your landlord has ignored a more casual request. Read on for how to craft a letter, and what to do if that doesn’t work.How to draft a letterThe chatbot is pretty straightforward; simply put in your and your landlord’s information—such as your name, old address, current address, landlord’s name, and your security deposit amount—when prompted by Depositron. The tool will also ask you for photos of your apartment—proof that you didn’t damage your place beyond normal wear and tear. (You could also attach photos to the letter yourself when you send it via mail or email.)Photo evidence is crucial, said Sateesh Nori, a consultant on the Depositron project and a former housing attorney. By providing photos up front, you’re creating a record that can help support your case if you have to take your landlord to small claims court. (More on this in below.)“I’ve litigated these cases for many, many years, and the number one piece of evidence that a judge asks for is photos,” Nori said. The online tool is free, for now. After the first 1,000 users, renters may be asked to pay a fee—equivalent to a cup of coffee, said Nori—to use the letter generator.But even without Depositron’s help, it’s fairly easy to create a letter yourself. You can simply fill in the blanks in this form that Brick Underground created by using the online tool. Sending a letter didn’t work. What next?Your landlord must have your money returned to you, minus any repair costs, within 14 days.If your landlord doesn’t meet this deadline, they forfeit the right to keep any portion of your deposit and could even be liable for damages up to twice the amount of the deposit.So, if they haven’t responded to your letter and the 14-day window has passed, you can file a complaint with the New York Attorney General's office online or by downloading and mailing this form. (And yes, complaints do work.)You could also file a lawsuit in small claims court, if your security deposit is no more than $10,000. If it’s over $10,000, you’ll have to bring a suit in civil court, and may want to hire a lawyer.You Might Also Like