So you want a house now that your previous one burned down in L.A.?
Guess what, now you gotta pay 200% more! Wait, you seem desperate, make that 300%!!
As wildfires devastate Los Angeles County, authorities are tackling skyrocketing rental prices that exploit displaced residents.
Zillow has already pulled hundreds of listings exceeding the 10% price hike limit set during a state of emergency.
LA County DA Nathan Hochman made it clear, violators will face criminal charges, civil penalties, and public shaming.
With some rents spiking as much as 300%, the crackdown is a stark reminder that profiting off disaster will cost more than it’s worth.
It also reminds us that we live among those without souls.
The LA rental market is going absolutely nuts right now. Landlords are scalping rent to high heavens looking for the fire victims that have fresh insurance payouts.
This house would typically go for 13-18k per month. They didn’t even try to take good pics. pic.twitter.com/uXighEZyiF
— Justin Girard (@justinngirard) January 11, 2025
ABC News reports:
Sites that host rental listings in the Los Angeles County area are scrambling to address rent gouging amid the destructive, deadly wildfires ravaging the region and displacing thousands of residents.
Real estate marketplace Zillow told ABC News that it has “removed hundreds of Zillow listings due to price increases that exceed the state of emergency threshold.”
Housing providers can fix the “pricing issues” and re-list the homes or apartments once addressed, the company said.
The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) warned businesses not to price gouge during a declared emergency. Prices for goods and services — including hotel rooms, rental housing and emergency supplies — cannot be raised more than 10% in a time of emergency.
Some residents have seen increases in prices or rooms they are renting or houses that they are leasing go up by 100%, 200% or even 300%, according to LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
“If you’re one of these people who have engaged in price gouging, not only do you need to stop it immediately, I would strongly recommend that you go back and fix it, go back and refund the amount that you have overcharged people,” Hochman said in a Jan. 15 press conference. “We will certainly take that into consideration in deciding whether or not to charge you.”
Hochman noted that violators would face both criminal and civil penalties.
“And as importantly, your name will get out there, your company’s name will get out there,” he said. “You will be publicly shamed. I want to make that crystal clear. So stop it right now.”
The greed among liberal areas is insane.
But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
A furnished Bel Air home went on Zillow today for $29,500 / month. A few months ago, it was asking $15,900.
The agent said she told her client to re-list the home after this week's L.A. fires.
"People are desperate," she said. "You can probably get good money." pic.twitter.com/FAGfixxGad
— John Wick of Delay Deny Defend (@MobyDickTikTok) January 12, 2025
Here’s a list of the greedy landlords breaking the law.
Thank God it’s going viral so these landlords will be under the magnifying glass of anons and will most likely be prosecuted.
LA isn’t playing around… There’s a spreadsheet of landlords price-gouging rent during the LA Fires https://t.co/in7qTMp0Kf
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) January 14, 2025
And here’s where we can report them:
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) January 14, 2025
— StarNinja 🎃🥯🍂🍃 (Cara/ ☁️) (@StarNinja347) January 14, 2025
I’m willing to bet patriotic Americans are NOT the ones doing this.
Just reported my old landlord. Moved out 6 months ago due to cockroaches & shady monthly price bumps even though they were rent controlled. Sure enough, Jones & Jones Property Management is preying on the LA fires & price gouging. Raised rent on available 2 bedrooms by $800 today pic.twitter.com/7gJ9qgNwI7
— Caitlin Oishi (@caitlinerin) January 14, 2025
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