What is the legal definition of a tenant?

A person does not have to have a written lease with you, or even pay you rent, in order to be considered a tenant. Given how long he has been residing with you, you would definitely need to take legal action if you wanted to remove him from your home. It would be best to consult with an attorney to discuss your specific situation.

Dear Beacon Home Owner: Your family friend has sufficient legal status in your home based on the information you provided to require a tenancy termination notice for you to start a legal eviction lawsuit. Generally, a person occupying a dwelling for thirty or more days is a tenant as far as landlord and tenant eviction law helps define the issue. Since this occupancy will now cost you a lot of money due to DOH issues, I suggest you visit with a local attorney to better understand how you are in this situation.