Judgment Against Owners of Barnhill Marina for Unlawful Practices

Published on November 12, 2024

Owners Ordered to Pay Over $335,000 In Fines and to Obey Housing Laws

An Alameda County Superior Court judge has issued a final judgment in a housing enforcement case brought by the Alameda City Attorney’s Office against the owners of the Barnhill Marina (Investments-Redwoods LLC (“Valley”) and its manager Amarpal Narang) in the City of Alameda. This enforcement case, filed earlier this year by the City Attorney’s Office along with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, charged that the owners used unlawful tactics to force out and harass longtime tenants, including drastically and illegally raising rents and interfering with the residents’ right to sell their floating homes.

The judgment imposes over $335,000 in penalties and overdue Rent Program fees against Valley and Narang, and an injunction prohibiting them from interfering with tenants trying to sell their floating homes – or otherwise harassing residents.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, a San Joaquin County court has just appointed a receiver to take control of the Barnhill Marina. This means that Narang and Valley are no longer managing the Marina or collecting rents.

“We are pleased that the court granted this judgment to protect housing stability in Alameda, especially for some of our most vulnerable neighbors, and to uphold the public’s right to fair and lawful business practices in the community,” said City Attorney Yibin Shen. “We expect that the receivership will bring much-needed stability to Barnhill, where tenants have endured several years of wrongful actions by management and want to thank the District Attorney’s Office in partnering with us to undertake this important enforcement action.”

The City Attorney’s Office is committed to enforcing all applicable housing laws and ensuring that victims from all income levels and backgrounds can feel safe and secure in their homes and receive equal justice under the law.

State and City law protects tenants against unlawful harassment by landlords and their agents. Management may not, in bad faith, influence or attempt to influence a tenant to vacate a rental housing unit through fraud, intimidation, or coercion; or interfere with a tenant’s right to quiet use and enjoyment of a rental housing unit. The City Attorney’s Office encourages any person experiencing unlawful behavior in Housing to contact the Rent Program at 510-747-7520.