Ex-Resident Manager still living on-site.

Ok, so I was the Resident Manager for an apartment complex for four years. During those four years I had also been the Property Manager for all three apartment complexes, including my own, that were under the direction of different Property Management companies. Over the four years I worked there, there were five different Management Companies that were responsible at some point for the properties. They are now under the management of one of the previous companies, but is now under new ownership. While managing all three properties, I had the assistance of my maintenance man who was hired a year after myself. He had done all the work on my property and a good majority of the work on the other two properties. After inspecting the three properties, one of the management companies had decided to keep me and my maintenance man on when they took over, but had decided to let the other two Resident Managers go since they were not productive at all and had just gotten comfortable in their positions. They had then decided to put my Maintenance man as the Resident Manager at one of the properties and made me the property manager for all three properties as well as the resident manager of my property. Not only a month or so later the owner had the management company fire my maintenance man for no good reason except for the fact that he was mexican. Not only did the management company voice their disagreement, but several tenants wrote letters of the impeccable work and quality workmanship as well as customer service that he provided them. This was all done to no avail. After one year, the owner fired the management company and hired the present management company who had managed the property previously under different management/ownership not only 3 years previously. He had also seperated the properties and had two different management companies, my property (38 units)under one management company and the other two properties(19 & 14 units) under another property management company.

Now after four years the owner has fired me for no reason. Although there was an incident that put the property name in the news regarding a tenant that was charged with child endangerment and animal cruelty. I was hired the Monday following the incident that took place on Friday. The management company said that I was a good manager and it was not a good idea to fire me, my tenants put together a petition and had everyone sign it in favor of getting my job back, and other tenants on their own emailed the owner himself asking him to change his mind on firing me all to no avail.

Now hear is the funny part. I was not asked to move at all. They hired a tenant of mine who has his own business and occupies only a one bedroom, hence a two bedroom that I have, with no apartment manager experience to be the new resident manager. They now want me to pay rent for my apartment, that I have lived in rent free for four years. This was my only job and my primary source of income. They are now wanting me to sign a lease.
They haven't asked me for any money yet, but I figured they cant since I dont have a lease. I am a single Mom and have just started back at school.

What I would like to know is what is the consequence of not signing a lease? How long could I stay here without a lease? Although California is an at will state, do I have any grounds for unlawful termination, or maybe even discrimination against the owner?Any insite you could provide would be helpful.

They would have to evict you and that could take time. But unfortunately they do have the right to terminate the arrangement with you.