Florida Times

Florida: Driving America's New Greatness.
Friday, May 09, 2025

Los Angeles Residents Displaced by Wildfires Encounter Rising Rental Costs

Los Angeles Residents Displaced by Wildfires Encounter Rising Rental Costs

Victims of wildfires have noted a considerable rise in rental prices due to increased demand, leading to government actions aimed at preventing price gouging.
LOS ANGELES, Jan 17, 2025 — Thousands of people in Los Angeles, displaced by the Palisades Fire that destroyed or damaged around 5,000 homes, are encountering significant difficulties in finding temporary housing.

The devastation has led to a sharp rise in rental prices, with many tenants experiencing sudden cost increases as demand surpasses supply.

Increased Rental Rates and Accusations of Price Gouging
Across the region, reports indicate a notable hike in rental prices, with some properties showing increases of up to 29%.

Jay Gilberg, whose five-bedroom home in Pacific Palisades was lost, recounted facing rental price surges while searching for temporary housing for his family.

A property in Beverly Hills, previously listed at $14,000 per month, saw a $4,000 overnight increase.

Gilberg's real estate agent was told the hike was due to market 'supply and demand.'

The Los Angeles Tenants Union, advocating for affordable housing, has documented over 500 instances of sharp rent increases since the disaster, with some rates more than doubling.

The union has raised awareness of renters' struggles, highlighting that many displaced individuals are already financially burdened.

Government Actions Against Price Gouging
In response to these reports, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order capping price hikes on essential goods and services, housing included, to no more than 10% above pre-disaster levels.

Violations of this order are illegal and subject to legal action.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta noted that his office received hundreds of complaints about opportunistic pricing and announced investigations into several cases.

'This is unconscionable behavior at a time when support, not exploitation, is needed,' Bonta said, urging residents to provide evidence of price gouging to support prosecutions.

Personal Struggles
Many fire-affected residents are finding it hard to secure housing.

Renee Weitzer, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, and her husband Ed, 88, lost their Sunset Mesa home to the blaze.

Even after offering $14,000 per month—far above the $8,000 listing—and a year’s rent upfront, they couldn't secure a rental property.

The couple has since moved into a relative’s one-bedroom apartment as they deal with insurance claims and future plans.

Other victims have voiced frustration over additional financial pressures, such as application fees and credit checks.

Real estate agents like Lori Goldsmith have criticized landlords who try to profit from the disaster.

'These individuals have lost every memory and piece of stability,' Goldsmith said.

Wider Implications
The Palisades Fire is one of many recent wildfires ravaging communities in California, worsening existing housing shortages in the state.

Local officials, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, are committed to addressing the issue of price gouging.

'People are suffering and need assurance that they will be protected from exploitation,' Horvath stated during a visit to a FEMA disaster recovery center.

Ongoing Challenges for Displaced Individuals
As displaced residents continue their search for housing, competition remains fierce.

Many families and individuals endure prolonged uncertainty about their ability to rebuild or find stable housing.

The long-term effects of the wildfire on the housing market and affected communities have not yet been fully realized, with recovery efforts anticipated to last for years.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Nvidia Faces Billion-Dollar Losses – Warns: China Is on Its Way to Becoming an AI Superpower
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
DOGE: Reimagining Government Operations with AI
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Beijing Says U.S. Is ‘Reaching Out’ for Tariff Talks Amid Soaring Trade Tensions
Warren Buffett to Step Down as Berkshire CEO After Nearly 60 Years
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Transgender Swimmer Secures Five Gold Medals at U.S. Masters Championship
Prince Harry: “I Want Reconciliation with My Family”
Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has now been officially labeled “right-wing extremist” by the federal office for the so-called “protection of the constitution.”
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
The Rush to the White Gold: Global Investment Surge in Natural Hydrogen Exploration
180-Year-Old Christian University in South Carolina Announces Closure Due to Unmet $6 Million Fundraising Goal
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
Trump Administration Removes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Amid Signal Chat Controversy
Paramount Board Considers Settlement in Trump’s $20 Billion Lawsuit Over "60 Minutes" Interview
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Walz Reveals Why Harris Chose Him as Her Running Mate and Reflects on Democratic Losses
Death Penalty Sought as Luigi Manion Pleads Not Guilty in CEO Murder Case
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Massive Raid on Underground Nightclub in Colorado Springs Yields Over 100 Arrests
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Specialized anti-drone weapons deployed among security personnel Ahead of Papal Funeral
How do you fix this culture?
Corrupted from Within: How Deep State Power and Unelected Judges Hijacked Democracy Against the Will of the People
World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral
Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome as World Leaders Attend Funeral
Alberta's Push for Independence Raises Questions About Canada's National Unity
Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser, dies by suicide
Bill Maher Slams Liberals for ‘Trump is Hitler’ Smear: ‘Insult to Holocaust Victims
Elites vs. America: How Democrats Lost the Plot and the People
Pam Bondi Details Wisconsin Judge’s Actions Before Arrest: 'Can't Make This Up'
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Peter Navarro: The Man Behind Trump’s Tariff Madness
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
U.S. Intelligence Chief Refers Classified Leak Cases to Justice Department
U.S. Justice Department and DOGE Announce Cuts to Federal Grants Amid Broader Government Efficiency Efforts
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
The legacy media will never show you this side of President Trump
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
Greek Christians Celebrate Easter in Thessaloníki
×