Also the rent checks have been deposited into my personal checking account.  

Now that we've moved out the landlord is holding our whole deposit as the yard isn't in the same shape as when we moved in, which I'll admit is true.

Several of my firends and I have already put down deposits at that link for future info and pricing.

I call BS on that, because he wrote them a clear letter showing intent to vacate.Now I know it's not my problem, as the applicant signed his lease and sent me the security deposit.....However, I'd like to do him better and help him exercise his rights......Anybody know how to go about enforcing this??

As ironic as it sounds, if your lease did not specify this topic, you may be at legal liability for unnecessarily withholding the tenants deposit if he satisfied the terms of the lease (if there was one)...

I have already paid the senior mortgage liens and put down my earnest money deposit.

Still others know their rights but don't fight a landlord when a deposit is wrongly kept because they don't want to deal with the trouble.

Do Not offer anything as a "deposit," "down payment," or "credit," prior to opening escrow.

You would stand to lose the deposit if you backed out, so either way she is covered.

We also want to get copies of any leases of tenants, proof they have been paying, any Certificate of Occupancies, and also proof there is a security deposit.