shepsel

Over a year ago I took a one year lease on a furnished condo, and gave two months rent as a security deposit. It was a standard lease, and I fulfilled all aspects of the lease and returned it in perfect condition, and gave the necessary one month notice that I was vacating. A day after vacating the apartment, the owner, the building manager and I met for the inspection. Everything checked out fine, except for a cracked ice cube tray (which was cracked when I took possession.) I leased the apartment via the building management who act as agents (for a fee) from the owner, and always paid my rent on time. It is now over a month later, and I still have not received my deposit back. I asked the building manager, who said that he has requested that the owner clear this item, and the building manager said that I have to contact the owner on my own and deal with it, since the building is no longer involved. The contract was a standard building lease--and I was told that I had to go through the office for everything, and not the owner. Now that I have returned my keys, the building is avoiding the issue, and I have no way of getting in touch with the owner. Is there a procedure (legal or not) for getting the deposit back? It is a matter of principle to get my deposit returned, because there is no just cause for the owner to keep the money.