LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The Board of Supervisors addressed housing issues Tuesday as protesters at the meeting made their demands known in the wake of deadly fires in Los Angeles County earlier this month.
The meeting was interrupted midway by tenants union activists who feared evictions and called for a rent freeze, but unanimously passed special safety provisions and relief measures for the rental market.
County leaders said they want to make sure tenants with family members affected by the fires can welcome them into their homes, along with any pets they may have.
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Short-term rental restrictions will also be eased by the Board of Supervisors, which is expected to provide more temporary housing for people affected by the wildfires.
“In a situation like this, you know we’re working as hard as we can,” L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Berger told KTLA’s Chris Wolf. “I know that one of my family members has opened part of their home to displaced people in Altadena. You have to be as flexible as possible. Many of them have animals, but that doesn’t prevent them from living with their loved ones.”
Tenant rights activists attend the LA County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 21, 2025. (KTLA) Tenant rights activists attend the LA County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 21, 2025. (KTLA)
Landlords’ price gouging comes after the Eaton and Palisades fires on January 7 destroyed nearly 14,000 buildings, killed at least 28 people and forced thousands to evacuate. This is a constant concern for leaders.
At a press conference last week, newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke freely about landlords seeking to exploit wildfire victims.
“Price gouging is especially despicable because they’re looking at this situation and asking, what are we going to do about it?” [they can] We make the most money from people who have lost everything and are desperately looking for housing, goods and services,” Hochman said. “Let me tell you, in terms of this price gouging, we have seen people increasing the price of their rooms. [or] They rent their houses for 100, 200, 300 percent. ”
During Los Angeles County’s current state of emergency, landlords are prohibited from increasing rent by more than 10% above previously advertised rates.
However, there are gray areas such as bidding wars. Experts say that if a landlord offers more than 10% of the previously advertised rate, it doesn’t necessarily qualify as price gouging.
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