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

[ad_1] You probably did it. You dodged scams, trekked to packed condo excursions, discovered an agent who truly responds to your texts, and forked over 1000's of {dollars} for a New York Metropolis rental of your very personal. However you are still sweating, as a result of you have not obtained your safety deposit out of your outdated place, and also you're relying on that cash to make your subsequent hire cost.

Whether or not it’s $1,500 or $5,000, loads of NYC renters have horror tales about shedding a safety deposit to a recalcitrant landlord. The New York State Lawyer Common obtained round 5,000 complaints in 2023 and 2024 from New Yorkers attempting to get their deposits again.

Now, there’s a brand new option to strain your landlord into returning the cash they owe you.

Tom Martin, CEO of the authorized tech firm LawDroid, launched an internet chatbot that may assist New Yorkers draft a letter to their landlord to demand the return of their safety deposit.

“My hope is that we assist lots of people get their very own a reimbursement,” Martin stated. “It’s only a sick feeling when it’s your cash and somebody is holding it hostage. If we may free them of that concern and nervousness, that will be why we’re doing this work.”

Depositron, as Martin dubbed it, also can reply fundamental questions on tenants’ rights primarily based on just a few particular paperwork, together with the Lawyer Common’s Residential Tenants’ Rights Information. However it may’t show you how to with every little thing; for instance, Brick Underground discovered that it couldn’t reply questions concerning the authorized cap on software charges (often $20) and when a tenant is now required to pay a dealer charge (provided that they rent the dealer—due to a brand new legislation).

With any chat bot—or different generative synthetic intelligence instrument—it’s necessary to proceed with warning and to fact-check the solutions an AI mannequin offers you. As Depositron’s dwelling web page notes, it’s not a lawyer, and it can not offer you authorized recommendation.

However Brick Underground discovered it was useful at rapidly drafting a letter formally asking in your safety deposit again— step to take in case your landlord has ignored a extra informal request. Learn on for the best way to craft a letter, and what to do if that doesn’t work.

draft a letter The chatbot is fairly easy; merely put in your and your landlord’s data—comparable to your title, outdated deal with, present deal with, landlord’s title, and your safety deposit quantity—when prompted by Depositron.

The instrument can even ask you for photographs of your condo—proof that you simply didn’t injury your home past regular put on and tear. (You would additionally connect photographs to the letter your self once you ship it through mail or e mail.)

Picture proof is essential, stated Sateesh Nori, a marketing consultant on the Depositron challenge and a former housing lawyer. By offering photographs up entrance, you’re making a file that may assist help your case if you must take your landlord to small claims courtroom. (Extra on this in under.)

“I’ve litigated these instances for a lot of, a few years, and the primary piece of proof {that a} decide asks for is photographs,” Nori stated.

The net instrument is free, for now. After the primary 1,000 customers, renters could also be requested to pay a charge—equal to a cup of espresso, stated Nori—to make use of the letter generator.

However even with out Depositron’s assist, it’s pretty simple to create a letter your self. You possibly can merely fill within the blanks on this type that Brick Underground created through the use of the net instrument.

Sending a letter didn’t work. What subsequent? Your landlord will need to have your cash returned to you, minus any restore prices, inside 14 days.

In case your landlord doesn’t meet this deadline, they forfeit the correct to maintain any portion of your deposit and will even be chargeable for damages as much as twice the quantity of the deposit.

So, in the event that they haven’t responded to your letter and the 14-day window has handed, you'll be able to file a criticism with the New York Lawyer Common's workplace on-line or by downloading and mailing this type. (And sure, complaints do work.)

You would additionally file a lawsuit in small claims courtroom, in case your safety deposit is not more than $10,000. If it’s over $10,000, you’ll need to convey a go well with in civil courtroom, and should wish to rent a lawyer.