Enforcement Action Brought Against Owners of Barnhill Marina
Published on April 24, 2024
Alameda City Attorney’s Office Brings Enforcement Action Against Owners of Barnhill Marina for Unlawful Business Practices
Civil enforcement action to protect over 50 tenant families
The Alameda City Attorney’s Office, together with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, filed an enforcement action against Valley Investments-Redwoods LLC (“Valley”) and its manager Amarpal Narang.
Valley owns the Barnhill Marina & Boatyard in Alameda, a floating home marina with 56 berths. Barnhill’s residents, many of whom are over 65 and low-income, pay monthly rents to Valley and are tenants under State and local laws.
The complaint alleges that since purchasing Barnhill Marina in December 2021, Valley has used unlawful tactics to force out and harass longtime tenants. These tactics include drastically raising rents, interfering with the residents’ right to sell their houseboats, and trying to strongarm tenants into unlawful rent increases.
Valley also continues to ignore the City’s Rent Control laws and multiple citations issued by the City.
The enforcement action against Valley and Narang alleges:
- Unfair and unlawful practices in violation of the California Unfair Competition Law;
- Maintaining a public nuisance; and
- Violating local laws that protect tenants, including retaliation; coercing tenants to waive their rights; failing to register rent-controlled units; and failing to pay required fees.
“Valley’s egregious activities and willful non-compliance left the City no choice but to take legal action to protect the housing security of the over fifty tenant families at Barnhill,” said City Attorney Yibin Shen. “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. Additionally, we thank the District Attorney’s Office in partnering with us to undertake this important enforcement action.”
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 similar or related violations to contact the Rent Program at 510-747-7520.