Alameda City Prosecutors Obtain $20,000 Settlement from Landlord
Published on March 26, 2026
Alameda City Prosecutors Obtain $20,000 Settlement From Landlord Who Refused To Pay Back Excess Rent To Tenant
The Prosecution and Public Rights Unit of the Alameda City Attorney’s Office has 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.
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. The Hearing Officer agreed and directed that the rent be reduced until the heating was fixed; and also that the landlord 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 the tenant 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.
Alameda tenants should know about their rights and the ways that 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.” 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.
“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.”
The Prosecution and Public Rights Unit, in collaboration with the Rent Program, educates the public and enforces the laws governing fair housing and consumer protection in our community.
If you have questions or would like to report an issue, please contact the Prosecution Unit at 510-747-4772 or email to cityprosecutor@alamedacityattorney.org, or the Rent Program at (510) 747-7520 or email to rentprogram@alamedaca.gov.