In the aftermath of devastating wildfires that have left parts of Los Angeles in ruins, some landlords have chosen profits over principles, hiking rents far beyond legal limits, as reported by The New York Post.

Despite California’s price gouging laws prohibiting rent increases above 10% during a state of emergency, numerous reports reveal that many landlords are flagrantly violating these protections.

From Malibu to Altadena, over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, forcing thousands of families into an urgent scramble for housing.

A house on top of a hill along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu was fully engulfed in flames from the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. The fire erupted a day earlier amid fierce Santa Ana winds.

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Instead of compassion, some landlords are exploiting the crisis. A review by Los Angeles realtor Samira Tapia of more than 400 listings uncovered that nearly 25% had rents raised above the lawful threshold.

“People are so panicked and desperate to get into a house right now that they’re just throwing money into the wind.”

One particularly egregious example involved a five-bedroom Santa Monica home. Originally listed at $12,500 per month in February 2024, the property was recently relisted at a jaw-dropping $28,000 per month—a staggering 124% increase.

Similarly, a North Hollywood rental saw its price spike overnight by $800, reaching $5,700 per month.

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Even smaller homes aren’t immune from these drastic hikes. A two-bedroom house in Woodland Hills jumped from $3,900 to $5,900 in just a month.

JWB Real Estate Capital has built about 80 homes in the Biltmore neighborhood where the city and JEA teamed up to extend sewer service so property-owners can eliminate the use of septic tanks. Some of the houses are for rent.

Meanwhile, a Bel Air Tudor mansion that was listed at $29,500 per month in December is now being marketed at $39,000—a shameless grab for cash as residents struggle to find affordable shelter.

Real estate professionals and housing advocates are sounding the alarm. Chelsea Kirk of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy has compiled a crowdsourced spreadsheet documenting rent gouging, complete with addresses, links, and exact price changes.

High-profile figures like Jason Oppenheim of Netflix’s Selling Sunset have also condemned these actions, calling them “illegal and immoral.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week, invoking anti-price gouging laws designed to prevent precisely this kind of exploitation. State Attorney General Rob Bonta has vowed to enforce these laws, promising fines up to $10,000 and even imprisonment for offenders.

“We will not tolerate predatory practices during a crisis.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced criticism for her handling of the wildfire response, announced a new system for reporting price gouging. “Call @MyLA311 to report illegally hiked rents and prices,” Bass posted on X.

However, critics argue that enforcement must go beyond phone lines and into action to hold opportunistic landlords accountable.

As displaced families face the dual trauma of losing their homes and battling predatory landlords, the need for firm enforcement of anti-gouging laws has never been more urgent.