An Alameda landlord will be forced to pay their former tenants a large settlement for committing several tenant harassment violations, according to the Alameda City Attorney’s Office.

The Prosecution and Public Rights Unit of the Alameda City Attorney’s Office announced Monday, Feb. 13, that the landlord will pay $70,000 after officials said several of the city’s tenant harassment laws were violated.

Under the settlement agreement, the tenant family will receive $47,000 in the form of a cash payment plus credit for unpaid rent, while the city receives $23,000 for civil penalties and its costs and fees. The tenants have agreed to vacate the property at 2222 Lincoln Ave., according to the City Attorney’s Office.

“The City of Alameda has a strong policy of protecting and preserving affordable housing in our community,” said Alameda City Attorney Yibin Shen in a statement. “Our office is committed to justly enforcing state and local fair housing laws and ensuring that Alameda remains a place that people from all backgrounds can call home.”

In February 2022, the unit received a complaint from a tenant family living at 2222 Lincoln Ave., a multi-unit residential rental property. After the city’s investigation confirmed violations of the law, the City Attorney’s Office filed an enforcement action against the landlord in Alameda County Superior Court.

The city charged the landlord illegally entered the tenant’s apartment multiple times, illegally pressured them to vacate the property and had their cars wrongfully towed. The case was settled before going to court.

City of Alameda local laws prohibit landlords from harassing their tenants. The law stipulates landlords cannot:
• Enter a tenant’s unit without permission or notice, except under very narrow situations such as emergencies.
• Pressure a tenant to vacate through intimidation or coercion.
• Interfere with a tenant’s right to privacy and quiet use of their residence.

Landlords do have a lawful way to persuade their tenant to vacate. It is called a “buyout.” This is where 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, everything in writing, and filed with the City’s Rent Program.

“Using tenant harassment tactics to oust a tenant violates local law,” according to the city attorney.

The City of Alameda released its 2022 Rent Program annual report last week (“https://alamedasun.com/news/2022-rent-program-report-released,” Feb. 9). The report stated that the Alameda City Attorney’s Office received an average of 743 housing inquires each month, processed 90 requests to verify compliance with rent regulations, and processed submissions for 70 terminations of tenancy and buyout agreements.