The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have exacerbated the city's already dire housing shortage, leading to skyrocketing rents and allegations of price gouging. Many displaced residents struggle to find affordable accommodations as landlords capitalize on the crisis, pushing rents beyond legal limits set during emergencies.
The ongoing wildfires have set off a stampede to find housing, leading some homeowners and property managers to raise rents higher than the 10% allowed during emergencies.to find a new place for his family to live led him Saturday to a five-bedroom home in Santa Monica, California, that had been put on the market the day before for $28,000 a month — more than double the rent posted a year ago. The agent was asking for three months’ rent up front and already had applications from multiple people.
“A bunch of these homeowners who may have been in their home for 10, 20 or 30 years and haven’t experienced the rental market for decades — they’re going to get a crash course in the housing shortage, and it’s not pretty,” said Brock Harris, who runs a real estate brokerage with his wife, Lori. Many escaped with just a few possessions and now have no permanent homes. Many are staying with family or friends or in hotels, coping with unimaginable loss while they also search for long-term housing. The state has set up temporary shelters for those without anywhere to turn. Airbnb.org, a nonprofit organization independent of Airbnb, is working with a local nonprofit group, 211 LA, to
An NBC News review of rental increases uncovered numerous examples. One listing agent, Ofir Malul, was named on a dozen rentals whose prices increased as the fires spread last week. For seven of the properties, the price hikes exceeded the 10% allowed under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency declaration. A four-bedroom home in Topanga Malul answered a call and initially agreed to speak with a reporter after he wrapped up a meeting, but he didn’t answer subsequent calls or respond to messages.
WILDFIRE HOUSING RENT PRICE GOUGING CALIFORNIA
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