回复：口头协议也是合法协议，关键是证据，承认也是证据。

in a court of law

as long as you can not provide any hard copy of evidence in court, therefore, this case will only be a dispute. which means, it will be a case of his words against yours, or yours against his.

if you think you have reasonable believe that he does need to return your money, prove it. as in any hard copys of agreement that he had signed, etc. or even any phone conversations that had been "accidentally" recorded.

first, go to the city file a renter-landlord compliant, explian that your case is in dispute.