Security deposit not returned — over a year past NY legal deadline
Pros
The apartment itself is a spacious floor-through in a classic Clinton Hill brownstone, on a fun block near Fort Greene Park and the G train. The unit and location were genuinely good.
Cons
The problem is management, and specifically the security deposit. I was the tenant of Unit 3 from January 2023 to July 2025 and paid an $8,750 deposit. New York law (GOL § 7-108) requires deposits to be returned, with an itemized statement, within 14 days of move-out. Nothing was returned by the deadline. An itemization letter finally arrived 69 days late — and it conceded in writing that $7,579 was owed to me. More than a year after move-out, nothing has been paid at all. No interest was ever paid on the deposit despite the lease requiring it. I documented 61 phone calls to management's numbers attempting to resolve this. I now have a pending small claims case (Index No. SC-000461-26/NY, Civil Court, NY County) and have filed complaints with the NY Attorney General and the NYS Department of State. Anyone considering renting here should know exactly how the deposit was handled when the tenancy ended, and should check this building's public records (HPD, court dockets) before signing.
Advice to the owners
The problem is management, and specifically security deposits. New York law (GOL § 7-108) requires deposits to be returned, with an itemized statement, within 14 days of move-out. When my tenancy here ended, nothing was returned by the deadline. An itemization letter finally arrived more than two months late — and it conceded in writing that most of the deposit was owed back to me. More than a year later, nothing has been paid at all. No interest was ever paid on the deposit despite the lease requiring it, and I documented dozens of phone calls to management attempting to resolve it. I have a pending case in NYC Small Claims Court and have filed complaints with the NY Attorney General and the NYS Department of State. And this isn't just my experience: I'm aware of two other tenants of this building who have had the same problem getting their deposits back, including at least one with their own Attorney General complaint and court case. In a three-unit building, that's every unit. Prospective renters should check the building's public records (HPD and court dockets) before signing.
Good building overall
Pros
Kind super, landlord, and neighbors. Great proximity to the R train, laundry, and grocery stores. Great local spots. Quick response from landlord and super whenever we had issues.
Cons
Old building. Very dusty place. Loud vehicle traffic due to expressway on-ramp. Large trucks, etc. going to fast over the speed bump.
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