Does the landlord have the right to keep the money I've given them (rent & security deposit) if I signed the lease but never moved into the apartment?

I signed the lease for an apartment after viewing it. Initially, I didn't notice any of the issues with the apartment. Immediately after signing the lease (that day and the next day), I noticed peeling paint, bugs, and pieces of the flooring that were lifting among other things. I decided not to move into the apartment until these things were fixed (I never even spent the night or moved any of my furniture in) and later decided not to move into the apartment at all. The landlord has given me the option of either taking a two-month rent buyout or being responsible for the lease until they find a new tenant. Even though I never moved into the apartment, does the landlord have the right to keep the money/force me into one of these options? I guess I'm wondering what a lawyer would recommend in this situation.