Looking for some advice. I gave notice on my rent-stabilized apartment at the end of May for July 1, and paid June's rent. I physically moved out on June 12, but as I had done some painting I left messages with the management company (who are very bad about returning calls) asking how much they would take out of my security deposit to repaint the apartment because if it was going to be a lot I would do it myself before June 30. Days went by with no return call. It's now a week later, and in response to my calls/emails yesterday I've been told they have already come in and painted it themselves and would take an as-yet-undisclosed amount out of my security deposit.
I find this fairly outrageous, since 1) I'd left messages asking for guidance on the issue, saying quite clearly that I wanted to make the decision about doing my own painting, and 2) the apartment is still mine until June 30, so they've entered the apartment and done work without my permission.
Do I have any rights here? I have no problem paying a reasonable amount for the painting, but I don't feel I should have to do that plus pay June's entire rent if they are already treating it as though it has been vacated. Are they obligated to give me half the month's rent back (and then remove the painting cost from my deposit)?
(Don't know if this matters at all but the background on the notice-giving is I broke the lease but presented the landlord with a suitable new tenant at the same time. They accepted her no problem.)
Thanks for any counsel.
Christine