Best practice for guests staying longer than 28 days in a STR

[Leon Lee]

Hi, Fellow STR investors

I have seen many posts on this topic, but I am still a little unclear on the best practice for this situation: what is the best way to deal with guests requesting to stay longer than 28 days (or 30 days for some places) and therefore have tenant rights? So far, it seems the options are:

(1) Treat them the same as those staying shorter than 28 days

(2) Treat them the same as those staying shorter than 28 days, but require security deposit

(3) Treat them as long-term tenants, sign a lease with security deposit. 

(4) Treat them as long-term tenants, check background, sign a lease with security deposit.

My main question is that if they have stayed longer than 28 days and refuse to leave at the end of their stay, landlords will need to start eviction processes no matter whether they have a lease with guests or not, correct? If so, why bother signing a lease?

All inputs are welcomed!

Lee