The claimants, in March 2017, moved into the property pursuant to a lease with the defendant (claimants' exhibit 1, in evidence, without objection); the lease allowed the claimants to occupy the property from March 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018, at a monthly rental of $1,200. Among other things, the lease stated the claimants' security deposit would only be returned upon a written 30-day notice to the defendant and if the property was left in "move-in" condition (para 1); the deposit could not be used for the last month's rent or the claimants' would "forfiet [sic] your remaining security deposit" (para 2); any damage not repaired would be taken from the deposit (para 5); the claimants would be responsible for any non-reported "mechanical or physical disorders" (para 6); the property "must {**60 Misc 3d at 839}be kept in move-in condition, free from garbage, litter etc." (para 7); and if the claimants left before the end of the term, the claimants would "forfiet [sic] your security deposit" (para 11).
The claimants occupied the property until February 26, 2018, and the defendant admitted the rent was paid in full through February 2018; claimants' exhibit 3, in evidence [*2]without objection, was a receipt for payment of February's rent.[FN1] Mr. Camacho, in January 2018, verbally advised the defendant the claimants would be vacating the property at the end of February 2018.[FN2] On February 21, 2018, Mrs. Camacho and the defendant signed a document entitled "Security return" (defendant's exhibit A, in evidence, without objection) by which the defendant agreed to release $500 of the security deposit to Mrs. Camacho to help her secure a new place to live. The agreement required Mrs. Camacho to acknowledge she was