[jack-r-abbit]

It is unclear to me if one could pull the same thing at an actual hotel or not. Assuming you could find a hotel that had a room available for more than 30 days, would they book you for that long? Or do they already have a policy against that for this very reason? Or do they have some different protection under the law that makes it easier to make you leave when your stay has ended?

[tzs]

There are different rules for hotels/motels. In particular, if the manager has a right of access and control, and all of the following are true:

• occupancy of less than 7 days is allowed (this doesn't mean your occupancy has to be less than 7 days)

• a fireproof safe is provided for residents' use

• it has a central telephone service

• it has maid, mail, and room service

• it has food service provided by a food establishment on or next to the hotel/motel grounds and that is operated in conjunction with the hotel/motel,

then California classifies you as a guest, not a tenant, and no matter how long you stay there you can be kicked out as soon as you fail to pay, with no need for any kind of eviction proceeding.

More details here: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/whois.shtml