The Prosecution and Public Rights Unit of the Alameda City Attorney’s Office announced they have reached a settlement with an Alameda landlord who had refused to repay $20,211 in excess rent to a tenant, even after a Hearing Officer ordered they do so.
[1]The tenant had filed a rent reduction petition with Alameda’s Rent Program claiming that their landlord had for years refused to provide the apartment with proper heating, according to a news release issued by the City. The Hearing Officer agreed and directed that the rent be reduced until the heating was fixed, and ordered the landlord to reimburse the tenant $20,211 for past excess rent over the prior three years (due to the absence of heating).
The tenant also alleged that the landlord harassed them repeatedly in an effort to make them move out at a time when the landlord was trying to sell the building.
In November 2025, after the landlord persistently refused to pay the $20,211 owed to the tenant or cease their harassment activities, the City Attorney’s Office filed an enforcement action against the landlord in Alameda County Superior Court to enforce the Hearing Officer’s decision. The case settled shortly thereafter.
Know your rights
The City Attorney’s Office helps to enforce state and local housing laws. If a landlord refuses to provide basic services or repair broken items, tenants can file a rent reduction petition with the City’s Rent Program.
Also, tenants living in a property that is listed for sale have the same rights as all tenants in Alameda—to be left alone and not harassed, and to stay on after a new owner takes over the property.
“Many people still think tenants have to move when a property is sold, but that’s not the case,” said Rent Program Director Bill Chapin.
Under local law, landlords do have a lawful way to persuade their tenant to vacate. It is called a “buyout.” In that case, the landlord pays the tenant money in exchange for giving up their tenancy. However, buyouts must be voluntary, and must follow detailed rules, including special notices with everything in writing and filed with the City’s Rent Program.
“The City of Alameda has a strong policy of protecting and preserving affordable housing in our community,” said City Attorney Yibin Shen. “We are committed to fairly enforcing state and local housing laws and ensuring that Alameda remains a place that people from all backgrounds and income-levels can call home.”
It is the job of the Prosecution and Public Rights Unit, in collaboration with the Rent Program, to educate the public and enforce the laws governing fair housing and consumer protection in our community.
If you have questions or would like to report an issue, contact the Prosecution Unit at 510-747-4772 (email [email protected] [3]), or the Rent Program at 510-747-7520 (email [email protected] [4]).