You are 100% bound to the agreement, you AN NOT back out without penalty.
what country u live in?
the 'old' lease is still valid = u move in
and full fill lease OR they sue u. and win.
Technically your original lease can still be held for you to honor, but considering your situation, including the fact that you never took possession, I suggest you sue the landlord to completely void the contract and/or acting in bad faith (for twice the amount of the deposit), allowing you to possibly getting back your deposit or more.
Sounds like mutual rescission to me. Good thing you recorded the conversation, provided you live in a state that does not require the leasing agent's consent to record.
The original signed lease is valid. You should know that recording a conversation without the other party's knowledge is illegal.
If the lease is fully executed (you and the apartment management signed it), you are bound by it. You do not have the option to back out without financial penalty.
You were correct to refuse to sign a new lease.
I signed a lease that give a security deposit amount on it. I'm not scedualed to move in until next month however the landlord contacted me and told me my security deposit was incresed voiding my old lease and I need to come in and sign a new one. This sounded odd so when I went in I used my cell phone to record and got the leasing agent saying my current lease is void and I need to sign a new one. However due to this strange situation I no longer trust the company and told them I nolonger agree and do not want to sign a new agreement and because the old one is void I'm just going to look elsewhere. I left and the next day got a call that they were going to honor the original agreement. I told them that due to their shady dealings I was no longer interested. The lady told me I had to
