Landlord withholding my security deposit

[Brit Flaggen]

Hello,

I was living in a three family home in NJ for just a year. Prior to me moving in, two tenants were terminating their lease and moving out early. This was my first apartment so I didn’t think nothing of it. I am a college student doing civil engineering and I am extremely busy all week. When I moved in on October 14th 2017, I paid the first month rent, the last months rent and security. My first month’s rent was approximately $700(I moved in at the middle of the month) the last month was $1300( rent was 1300 only on the contingency of me getting a dog, I never got a dog so each month I paid 1200 but the last months rent was paid for 1300) and my security deposit was $1200.

Fast forward to September 2018, the month prior to the last month of my lease I paid my landlord another month’s rent. Unbeknownst to me that October was my last months rent. So I asked her to return my money because I paid my last months rent in 2017, she said no. I tried to call my bank for the money, they said that I would have to go to small claims court. It was midterms and at the time I didn’t have time for that. So since I paid the full months rent, I expected to stay the entire month. However my landlord said I needed to move out 7 days before the end of that month. I only complied with that because I really wanted my security deposit back. 

When I moved out, I was told that my “security letter” will be sent to me. I actually thought it was my security deposit, but it turns out to be a letter of damages I never made. I looked up NJ law and it says that she was supposed to send this letter CERTIFIED within 30 days of my departure. On the lease it says the security deposit will be sent no sooner than 60 days. She sent it in 33 days after my departure. Do you think the judge will comply with NJ law or the contract? I didn’t take before pictures of the apartment, but I do have after pictures. Here’s a list of the damages she says I did: 

1. Mold treatment for the bathroom and the ceiling had to be replaced. She has pictures (never sent them to me) of these claims. Charged: $270

2. Repainting supplies(paint brushes, spakle) charged: $152.23

3. Molding repair. She has pictures of broken molding in the tub. Never sent them to me. Charged $17

4. Garbage removal. Garbage was left on the curb. She said she had to bag items and pay to place them in a dumpster. Charged me $90

5. Repair of light switch. Charged $12

6. Broken overtop- replacement. Charged $324.99

7. Broken dishwasher- replacement. Charged $199

8. Bath fitters- mold removal from tub re- caulk and seal $187

9. Cleaning supplies: $34. 22

Conveniently, this totaled to $1286.44 which is over my security deposit so now she claims I owe her. 

I desperately need help. I didn’t do anything except number 4 and 5 (I left the excess garbage on the curb in plastic garbage bags) and for the light switch. I have pictures of the overtop not broken, mold shouldn’t been my fault because the previous tenant also left molding in the tub as well. She didn’t re-caulk it then so it only compounded. She lives in Vermont, never gave me her address I only have her P. O Box number so I cannot properly serve her.