No deposit back (NY state)

I'm from Italy and currently i'm in New York because i'm doing an internship at United Nations.

I arrived in the city at the end of january and i rented a room in an apartment in Chinatown. The landlord didn't provide any contract for the three months lease and only after i paid her (first month, last month and a deposit) she told that in the mornings she would have used the apt for her work.

After three days in this apartment i found out the there were rats (actually i've found one on my bed while i was sleeping). I told her that i was not going to stay in the apartment anymore, but she did not give me all the money back (she kept 660$ deposit). Furthermore i had to spent one week in hotel looking for another apartment spending almost 800$. I want to know if i'm entitled to get the deposit back and the refund for the hotel bill from my ex landlord, and what i can do to make her give me the money back.

Thank you for your help.

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that oral agreements are valid in USA. The rental agreements have to be in writing but in case of month to month rent agreement even oral agreements are valid. In this, you can terminate the lease by giving written notice to the landlord. In your case as the lease has been terminated, therefore, you can now claim the security deposit. If you want to have refund of hotel bills then you will have to show that it was impossible to live in the house and so you left as you could not enjoy the possession of the house as it was not habitable. You can send a legal notice to landlord for return of security. If the landlord still does not pay then you can file a suit in court for recovery of security of rent.

AFF