Rental home security deposit refund?

I recently put a deposit on a home that I wanted to rent, but then I became ill and could not move. I talked to the owner prior to my move in date and explain the reason. However, the owner refuses to refund my deposit and came up with all kinds of excuses that was never disclosed to me prior to this. We never entered into a written lease agreement, or had a security deposit signed by either of us throughout this whole ordeal. The only proof I have is a copy of my cashier's check. Can the owner keep my money? What are my options?

Are you just looking for an excuse because you found something better? If your sick well, lets face it, you will have to live somewhere, why not go ahead and move in? The deposit was to hold the house, which he did. He is just not a nice landlord and will take advantage of people less fortunate than he is. Go ahead and move in and don't pay him rent, make him fight you in court.

You'll have to go to court. Did you give him enough notice to find someone else to rent and was he able to rent the place? He may hold on to one month's rent unless you gave him plenty of notice in advance. The check you gave him shows an aggreement for him to hold the apartment for you. You will need to speak to a lawyer or check the housing laws in your community.

If he won't return it, take hinm to small claims court.

why would you be so dumb as to hand off money without a recipt for its stated purpose, a written agreement etc?

It just may end up as a "stupid tax" , one that we all have to pay when we do something dumb.

If the owner refuses then your only solution is to use "small claims court".