It depends on if you signed any type of agreement when paying him a deposit. was it a deposit for rent or a deposit towards teh security deposit. it depends what the receipt says. he just can not keep a security deposit, state laws dictate on how a deposit can be kept and how and when it has to be given back and usually with 30 days. If you do not take it, request your deposit back in writing, if in 30 days he doesnt return it you will have to go and file a civil suit against him in your district court. If you havent signed an agreement, then what he wrote on teh recipt will be key.

If the understanding was that they would hold the apartment for you, with the understanding that they would stop looking for other renters, then I suppose they could. Speak to a lawyer.

You need to have the lease signed in order contractual agreement between landlord and tenants, they could lease the apartment I would address these issues on Monday. Did they receipt the security deposit?
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