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Tenant leased an apartment from Landlord for one year at $2,000 per month and paid a $2,000 security deposit. After six months, Tenant moved out, returned the keys, and texted Landlord, "I cannot afford this apartment anymore. Please rent it to someone else." Landlord replied, "The lease is your problem," and did not advertise the apartment for two months. Landlord then rented the apartment to New Tenant for the remaining four months of the original lease at $1,800 per month.
Landlord kept the full security deposit, claiming unpaid rent, a $300 carpet stain, and $250 to repaint walls with ordinary nail holes. Tenant sues to recover the deposit. Landlord counterclaims for all unpaid rent through the end of the original lease.
Discuss the parties' rights. Address abandonment, surrender, Landlord's duty to mitigate, damages after reletting, use of the security deposit, ordinary wear, and likely recovery by each party.