How many people need to live in a home with the owner to be tenants?
In California, I keep reading that someone can only be considered a lodger when living in the same home as the owner if they are the only other occupant. I live in an owner occupied home but it is a 3 bedroom house with the owner occupying the master while two other adults occupy each of the other two rooms. I pay rent and have lived here for 6 1/2 years. I am the sole occupant of the room and have exclusive use of the room. I receive no other services; I buy my own food, cook my own meals, do my own laundry(yes, I pay for my own laundry soap), clean my own room, have my own cooking utensils, pots, pans - use my own dishes, I even have my own TV cable service with the account in my name, etc. Doesn't this make me a tenant entitled to the same protections such as a 60 day notice if the owner is ending my tenancy? (as opposed to a 30 day notice) The owner is of the belief that I am a lodger only entitled to a 30 day notice and has stated she has even talked with the local police department who has (I feel erroneously) told her they can arrest me for trespassing after 30 days.