Roommates Arrears and Security Deposit

Last February, I re-upped a full year lease knowing that I'd likely have to break it. I had a conversation with my landlord about this, and said I wanted to sign a shorter lease. She said to sign the current lease, it wouldn't be a problem, the only stipulation would be the subtenant would have to get approved by the board (I live in a Coop). Long story short, it's two months before my lease is... [more]

Last February, I re-upped a full year lease knowing that I'd likely have to break it. I had a conversation with my landlord about this, and said I wanted to sign a shorter lease. She said to sign the current lease, it wouldn't be a problem, the only stipulation would be the subtenant would have to get approved by the board (I live in a Coop). Long story short, it's two months before my lease is up, I have three people lined up to be cleared by the board, and my landlord is now not letting me have a subtenant. Her main claim is that she just got an offer on her apartment and does not want any added risk. I know, I should have gotten it in writing...I trusted her...I don't need ribbing on that, my main question is this (because of course, it get crazier): She claims that my roommate has been paying rent late, and he's now two months late (he says one, and he talked it over with him). Because of this, she doesn't want to take on any more risk. I say fine, I'll pay upfront for the two months and the tenant would pay me. No dice. Then I said I'd pay upfront for the entire apartment for two months, no stress on her at all. No dice. What she does offer is to let us leave the apartment one month early, if we're both out at the same time. So instead of leaving at the end of January, we could leave at the end of December. I said OK. I then wrote back (because I wanted this in writing given my experience with her going back on her word), "We will move out at the end of December, but I want to clarify that we will not get penalized for breaking the lease". Wouldn't you know....she writes back "I need you to know that I will be keeping your full security deposit (2 months) due to your roommates arrears". I've been on time 100% of the time, helped stage the apartment that I live in to make it more attractive to sellers (yes, she just sold the apartment on top of it all), and she is now saying she will take not only my roomate's deposit --which kind of makes sense...he has paid late fees when he's late, and is missing this months rent---but also mine. She tells me this a few days before I send her the rent check. My deposit was for two months rent. I have two months left on my lease. Do I just leave and not pay the rent? [less]