>I’ll get back to you tomorrow but look up landlord tenant law and truth in renting that you should have received when you signed your lease

Hi, thanks for replying. I did not receive the truth in renting document from the landlord when we signed the lease. I'll check with my GF once again tomorrow in case it's only on her email and I wasn't CC'd on it. However, the lease does not mention "Acknowledgement of Truth in Renting".

Anyways the document says as per TRUTH-IN-RENTING ACT N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 through 50, "Landlord" means any person who rents or leases or offers to rent or lease, for a term of at least 1 month, dwelling units, except dwelling units in rental premises containing not more than two such units, or in owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units, or in hotels, motels or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests."

The Rent Security Law (N.J.S.A. 48:6-19) also states "The Security Deposit Law applies to most residential rental properties, including mobile homes. The exception is an owner-occupied two-, or three-family dwelling. A tenant in an owner-occupied two-, or three-family dwelling may, however, make this provision applicable to their tenancy 30 days after sending a written request to the landlord that the landlord fulfills the requirements of the Security Deposit Law." Since my apartment was owner-occupied, I'm not sure if the entire act is exempt or certain sections of it are exempt. But the lease does mention "The Landlord will fully comply with the Rent Security Law (N.J.S.A. 48:6-19 et seq.).".

Due to these, I'm curious about what special privileges owner-occupied landlords have that make them exempt from these laws and what rights tenants have in this situation.

I also want to know that since I did technically stay for 9 hours after the lease ended, does that mean I owe him the entire month rent and will that take precedence over him refusing to return the security deposit/itemized deductions within 30 days.