I want to know what exactly makes someone a tenant in California with all the rights and protections of a tenant?

My spouse is the onsite, resident property manager for the apartment bldg that we have lived in. We've been here for almost 5 years and we do pay a portion of the rent. Granted it's not alot but we do pay it. It comes directly from spouses paycheck and is labeled on the paycheck as rent payment.

So do I have the same protections and rights as all the other tenants here?

Also, my lease says that if spouse leaves employment we are entitled to stay in apartment.

Thanks.

Frustrated and tired

It is hard to say if you are a tenant. At this point, your husband is part of management and his rent is subsidized as a part of his pay. So, it sounds like he is an employee-resident manager. Your tenancy is connected to that. If you stayed and he was not an employee and paid rent, you would fully be a tenant. The reason that I cannot fully answer your question is because I think you will need to look at the employment contract or agreement of your husband to see your status in the eyes of the employer.