Manorhaven Houseboat Residents Say Landlord Is Trying To Force Them Out

MANORHAVEN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A houseboat battle is brewing in a tiny North Shore Long Island enclave, after residents of a marina near Port Washington awoke to no power and no water.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported Thursday, the houseboats make up a year-floating community in Manorhaven, on peaceful Manhasset Bay. But now, solitude at Haven Marina has been replaced by the constant roar of generators.

"They turned the power off last week," said Haven Marina resident Stefany Coulter.

Coulter was among the 30 houseboat residents who received an unofficial warning to vacate.

"All part of a bigger picture – you know, a plan – to get us out; to evict us illegally," Coulter said. "The water was shut off, and that was the last straw for me."

Coulter contacted Nassau County, and the Board of Health ordered the owners to restore the water. But the power could take another two weeks.

The village said the marina is private, and the dispute is between tenants and landlord Michael Boroumand. CBS2 left messages and visited Boroumand's Sands Point home, but there was no response.

"Terrifying – it's terrifying. I'm here 16 years. My son was raised here," said Haven Marina resident Kathleen Sutherland. "We all look out for each other, and they're just pulling the rug out from underneath us, you know? Where do you go?"

Boat owners say they cannot just call a moving van.

"My boat was $60,000. It's a barge. It has no motor. It has to be towed, and there's no place to take it any longer," said Haven Marina resident George Wendt. "So everybody that's there losing their entire investment"

"I'm not given any notice. I just heard we have to leave -- immediately," said Haven Marina renter Zoran Bandovic, "and I already paid for this season. So really I don't know what to do."

Tenants said marina owners – Boroumand and his brother – told them they want their property cleared of boats to build waterfront condominiums.

Manorhaven officials confirmed that the property owners have made a proposal to the village to build condominiums.