Quick Summary:
• Wildfires in Los Angeles County have destroyed over 1,000 structures, displacing thousands of families.
• Some landlords are illegally raising rents beyond the 10% emergency limit, taking advantage of desperate tenants.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that price gouging during emergencies is a crime punishable by fines and jail time.
• Housing advocates, including Chelsea Kirk and People’s City Council, are demanding a rent freeze and eviction moratorium to protect fire victims.
• Jason Oppenheim from Selling Sunset shared a case where a landlord raised the rent from $13,000 to $23,000 monthly after a wildfire destroyed homes.
• Police have made dozens of arrests for looting and scams, with authorities warning of increasing criminal activity amid the disaster.
• Despite community generosity, housing advocates emphasize the need for stronger enforcement of anti-gouging laws and tenant protections.
As deadly wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, housing advocates are calling for immediate protections for renters. With over 1,000 homes destroyed in the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton fires, some landlords are exploiting the crisis by raising rent prices well above legal limits, prompting calls for an eviction moratorium and rent freeze.
Authorities have confirmed that landlords cannot raise rents more than 10% during a declared state of emergency. Yet many renters are finding that landlords are ignoring this law and increasing rents significantly, making it even harder for fire victims to find housing.
“If you’re a renter who has been impacted by the fires, remember that you have rights!” said tenant rights advocate Chelsea Kirk, who is tracking illegal rent increases across Los Angeles.
The wildfires have left thousands of families displaced, and desperate renters are facing inflated prices from landlords trying to cash in on the crisis. California Penal Code Section 396 clearly prohibits price gouging during emergencies, but some landlords are taking advantage of vulnerable residents.
“It’s called price gouging,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference. “It is illegal. You cannot do it. It is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail and fines.”
Despite this, Kirk has documented over 100 listings on Zillow where landlords have raised asking prices by more than the 10% legal limit. Some listings show price increases of more than 50%, with a few even exceeding 75%.
Housing advocates are urging local officials to implement a rent freeze and eviction moratorium to protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords. The People’s City Council—Los Angeles posted on social media: “We need a rent freeze and eviction moratorium.”
The group NOlympics LA echoed the call, saying, “L.A. City Council needs to implement a rent freeze NOW.”
They added: “Price gouging in the wake of disaster is unacceptable, this is simple and could be done immediately but will L.A. leaders even propose it? We need an eviction moratorium to stop landlords [from] evicting people to cash in on crisis.”
The L.A. Tenants Union noted that “in the midst of all this destruction, eviction courts are still churning.” They highlighted how eviction courts in downtown LA continue to process cases, even as families struggle with the loss of their homes.
Tenant rights advocate Chelsea Kirk has been vocal about the issue, encouraging renters to report any illegal rent hikes they encounter.
“Because California is currently under an emergency declaration, rental price gouging is illegal,” Kirk told Common Dreams. “If you see a rental listing with a significant price increase—such as more than 10% over the pre-emergency price—you should report it to the attorney general’s office immediately, and confront the landlord or agent about it, if you feel comfortable doing so.”
She continued: “That said, I recognize this is an incredibly vulnerable time, especially for people who have lost their homes and are urgently trying to secure housing. Confronting a landlord may feel risky and might compromise your chances of getting the place. But it’s crucial to remember you have rights, even if you’ve already signed a lease. If you realize after signing that the landlord engaged in price gouging, don’t hesitate to push back. There are groups actively working to ensure these laws are enforced and to support tenants in these situations.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta offered similar advice: “If you know someone who’s been a victim of price gauging please report it.”
The crisis has even caught the attention of celebrities like Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix’s “Selling Sunset.” Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Oppenheim shared how one of his clients experienced a significant rent increase while trying to secure housing after the fires.
“[My client] offered $20,000 a month and he offered to pay six months upfront and the landlord said ‘I want $23,000’,” Oppenheim said.
“There are price gouging laws in California, they’re just being ignored right now, and this isn’t the time to be taking advantage of situations,” he added.
Price gouging is just one of several crimes being committed in the wake of the wildfires. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna warned that law enforcement is cracking down on looting and scams targeting wildfire victims.
“If you think you’re going to come to Los Angeles County to prey on our residents, we’re going to put you in jail,” Luna said during a press conference.
Officials reported multiple arrests related to burglary and fraud, including a man who posed as a firefighter to break into homes. Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned that “people will go to all ends to be able to do what it is they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy.”
With eviction rates in Los Angeles already exceeding pre-pandemic levels, housing advocates say an immediate rent freeze and eviction moratorium are necessary to protect renters from further harm.
“The community sees what they are doing, and we will hold them accountable,” Kirk said. “While I do not have much faith that officials will penalize landlords, we—the tenants and community organizers—will not sit idly by. We will take action, whether through organizing, direct action, or other means, to expose and stop these exploitative practices. Renters deserve to be treated with dignity, especially during times of crisis.”
Bonta highlighted another issue exacerbating the crisis: the use of algorithms to set rental and hotel prices.
“Some of our hotels and some of our landlords use algorithms based on demand and supply to set their prices,” he said. “If those prices lead to prices higher than before the emergency by 10% that’s against the law.”
Bonta warned that even landlords who claim ignorance of the law would not be excused. “If you’re a mom and pop and you’re not aware of these laws now you are aware,” he said. “Ignorance is not an excuse.”
The housing crisis in Los Angeles has been worsened by unscrupulous landlords exploiting disaster victims for profit. While some renters remain unaware of their rights, advocates are pushing for stronger protections, including rent freezes and eviction moratoriums. As officials crack down on price gouging, tenant groups vow to continue fighting for justice in the face of exploitation.
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