New Hampshire RE Rental question? I placed a $200 deposit for an apartment. The landlord and I could not find time to meet to sign the lease. He dropped the keys and lease at my current apartment. I did not like the wording of the lease so, before signing lease I checked out the apartment to make sure it was satisfactory. I noticed low water pressure and thin wall between apartments(Noisy Neighbors). I decided not to take the apartment. I informed him and return keys to him. He now states we had a verbal agreement and I have to pay him rent until he rents the apartment. I never signed the leased or delivered it to him. I told him he could keep the $200 deposit a gesture of good will.

First do I owe him money until he rents it?
Second, Can I get my $200 deposit back?

Additional Details
Thanks for all your responses so far:

Here s an update: The times you were suppose to meet to sign the lease, he had to cancel our meeting. I did not receive the lease until Sept 2.

I saw the apartment twice but each time it was being renovated, so i could not fully checked it out until I had the lease in hand.

Terms of the lease that did not approve of :
1. Taking the apartment as is (which i did not see in its fully finished state)
2. paying for all repairs under $100
3. responsible for all plumbing problems unless it was main line.

On receiving lease, I checked out the apartment and that's where I notice no water pressure in all plumbing faucets. I also heard the next door neighbors playing music and talking like they where in the room with me.

Here the one mistake I did make, I did not get a receipt for the $200, so there is no proof I gave it to him( Good?, Bad?)

I will send him a certified letter describing why I did not take the apartment.