California leaders are urging vigilance against rent hikes following devastating fires in Los Angeles, as many face housing challenges.
Los Angeles: The housing market in Southern California is about to get even tougher. Recent firestorms have destroyed over 12,000 homes, leaving many people without shelter.
Reports of rent-gouging are already surfacing. Officials are warning against this unethical practice and asking the public to report landlords who raise rents beyond the legal limit of 10%.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta made it clear: “You cannot jack up prices and take advantage of disaster victims.”
For instance, a three-bedroom condo that was listed for $5,500 a month suddenly appeared at $8,500 on Zillow. That listing was taken down shortly after.
The state has been grappling with housing and homelessness issues for a while now, but they were finally making some progress in building affordable homes.
So, can landlords legally raise rents? California law says no. After an emergency is declared, they can’t increase prices by more than 10% from what they were before.
Price-gouging is a serious offense, with penalties including up to a year in jail and fines of $10,000 for each violation.
These housing protections usually last for 30 days, but Governor Newsom has extended them for hotels and rentals until March 8.
There’s been a lot of chatter about rising rents in LA. Tenant rights groups are pushing for strict enforcement against those who are gouging rents.
People are even sharing examples of outrageous price hikes on social media, compiling them in a Google document.
For example, a four-bedroom house in Encino went from $12,000 a month to $14,000 just weeks later. Another house jumped from $16,000 to $29,000. All of these hikes break the 10% rule.
FEMA is stepping in to help those displaced. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you might qualify for living expenses to stay in a hotel or rental.
They also cover short-term stays at participating hotels and provide cash for housing through their assistance programs.
As for mortgage relief, five major banks have agreed to help affected homeowners with a 90-day grace period on payments and a moratorium on new foreclosures.
Airbnb is also doing its part. They’ve warned hosts in LA and Ventura counties that raising prices over 10% will trigger an error message. They’re reminding everyone that price gouging is illegal during emergencies.
Zillow is also getting involved, posting important info for renters about the law during emergencies.
It’s a tough time for many, but there are resources and support available to help those in need.
