Normally a security deposit is paid before the lease is signed. Once your lease is mutually signed then you have the right to move in.
Well, there is nothing to stop you from breaking the lease, however, the renter does not necessarily have to give you back the deposit (if there was a deposit required).
If you have not signed a lease then yes, you are not tied down. But you may lose your deposit and/or your hold. But you should be refunded your first month's rent. If you have signed the lease than its a diffrent story. You can not back out of a lease unless the appartment ownership lets you. It is noramally a large fee (around $3500 in some instances). Take care
You can, but you will probably not get back your security deposit.
Yes, although the landlord might claim that taking the money created a contract, and therefore argue that they can use it for the first month's rent.
No, you do not. It's a down payment, not a security deposit.
No. You mother's illness is not your landlord's fault.
If you have a lease agreement with a fixed term (Example: a typical 12 month residential lease agreement) then you cannot get out unless you get the Landlord's permission.
No.
Technically, yes. If you never took residency (and never accepted keys to your unit), there could not possibly be any damage that was caused by you. However, you may wish to worry about fees involved in breaking a lease - you may have to forfeit a month or two's rent!
If you were to break a lease for legal reason then it is possible to get your deposit back in most cases. Some legal reasons can include infestations of vermin, noisy neighbors, or criminal activity.
A wife can deposit her husbands paycheck if the husband has signed the back of the check. The wife must also sign the back under the husbands name in order to deposit the check.