Inherited tenants, offer new month to month lease?

[Ally Kumar]

Inherited tenants who were on month to month lease and I gave them their 30 days notice of rent increase. They want to sign a new lease but I want to see what kind of tenants they are before offering them long term/12 month lease. If I offer them my new month to month lease, is it considered continuation of their previous tenancy to avoid short term rental? Can I use their previous month to month lease with new rent? Maybe offer 7 month lease to try them out? Suggestions please.