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"It is possible for an oral (a/k/a verbal) agreement to rent to be formed, in which case, you could be liable for one month's rent even without signing a written lease. (That's because an oral or verbal agreement forms a \"month to month\" tenancy, so both parties are liable for one month at a time.) Whether or not one was formed in your case would depend on the circumstances. From what you right, there is a good chance that either not agreement was formed, since there was no \"meeting of the minds\"--that is, you though you needed security deposit and first month; landlord thought security deposit and first and last month; if there is no \"agreement,\" no agreement is formed--or that if one was formed, the landlord him/herself breached it by then trying to go beyond the agreed-upon terms and seek more money. For a more definitive answer, you should consult with a landlord-tenant lawyer, who can evaluate the facts in detail and depth for you, since the fact are everything in a case like this."
<https://staging.freeadvice.com/legal/can-a-landlord-hold-the-1-60911/>