Attorney General Rob Bonta to address price gouging in wake of LA County wildfires
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles was already dealing with a housing crisis before last week's wildfires left thousands without a home overnight, and now price gouging is making it harder for fire victims to find a place to stay.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday morning is expected to hold a news conference about efforts to crackdown on price gouging. Over the weekend, Bonta said his office received reports of hotels, rental properties, and other businesses overcharging during the fire disaster.
This is also impacting those who were already looking for a place to rent, as well as people who are currently renting and struggling to keep up with rental payments in an expensive housing market.
"As the housing market gets smaller and smaller because of the fires, rent prices are going to go up because they can," said Trevor Williams, who lives in L.A.'s Arts District.
The Los Angeles City Council and other city leaders and organizers are now pushing for a citywide moratorium on rent increases and evictions.
"The fires unfortunately have greatly exacerbated our housing and homelessness crisis overnight. We lost so many housing units, people lost their homes," said Rene Moya with the L.A. Tenants Union.
Realtor Dana Coronado says there's so much uncertainty.
Coronado, along with her husband, has been trying to get those who lost their homes into rental units. She became emotional talking about families who are losing out on housing when so many people are applying at once.
"He just had to call one of his clients and let them know they didn't get the house they applied for. They have three kids... it's a really difficult time for a lot of people," she said.
California law states landlords cannot raise prices by more than 10% during a declared state of emergency, which the region is currently in. The L.A. Tenants Union created a live database for renters to report potential violators.
Airbnb.org is also trying to help by partnering with 211 L.A. to provide free housing for up to seven days for people who have been displaced by the fires.
