Charged an extra week

By Rob

I rented an apartment for over 3 years. I was on time with every rent and caused no problems (I even have a letter from my landlord company confirming this). I had the apartment in my name, first, the deposit was entirely mine, and then brought in a roommate later. I moved out at the end of February, and I have the documentation of this. My roommate moved out at the end of March. I helped him move out and cleaned/did repairs in hopes of getting my entire deposit back. I left the apartment in better condidtion than when I moved in.
The landlord company told my roommate that he had "throught the weekend" to move out (and into a smaller apartment in the same building) if he needed, as the next tennants wouldn’t be in until May. My roommate was moved out as of April 1st. I just got my deposit back (no damage/repair deductions) with a deduction made for staying in the apartment through April 7th.
I have some questions as to how I should go about trying to get this "extra week rent" back. Knowing this company, I doubt they will pay me if I just ask, although I intent to start by explaining that no one was in the apartment past the 1st. I’d like to know my legal rights before going into this conversation. But, I don’t even know what state agency would be my advocate or what legal action I should take if I can’t get my money back. Also, should I cash the check they sent? (I’m unemployed, and April is my birthday month, so car registration has killed my budget. I expect to -need- the deposit money, but I don’t want to indicate that I agree with what they did by cashing the check.)

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