Landlords in fire-ravaged Los Angeles have jacked up rents — in some cases by more than double the price — in violation of California law against price gouging as thousands of residents seek shelter.
By law, landlords are not permitted to raise the price of housing by more than 10% after a state of emergency has been declared.
But a search of local listings and horror stories from realtors show that many opportunistic landlords are openly flouting the law after the wildfires destroyed entire communities. Some 12,000 structures, from Malibu to Pacific Palisades to Altadena, have been left in ruins.
Samira Tapia, a Los Angeles-based real estate agent, told the New York Times that her review of more than 400 listings found that almost 100 properties had rents raised beyond the 10% threshold.
Hellbound and Down 