The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law Sections 7-103 to 7-108, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 14 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Within 14 days after move-out, the landlord generally has to return the balance and provide an itemized statement describing the deductions taken from the deposit.
This dispute type
Once the New York deadline passes, the dispute stops being only about the deductions and becomes a deadline-compliance problem too. A landlord may still argue damage existed, but N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 7-103 to 7-108 sets the clock for returning the balance and explaining any amount withheld.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: Landlord forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit; willful bad faith violations can result in punitive damages up to twice the deposit