California State Officials Announce Another Price Gouging Case in Southern Wildfires
State officials in California have announced that another realtor has been charged with allegedly price gouging victims of the deadly wildfires devastating certain communities in Southern California.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Tuesday that the state is filing charges against a real estate agent who allegedly attempted to price gouge a family who was evacuated due to the Los Angeles Eaton Fire. According to the investigation, the family began searching for rentals through their real estate agent and inquired about renting a Glendale home.
The realtor offered the family a rental home in Glendale, but the rent was more than 50% higher than the pre-fire rent price.
The announcement follows a recent court ruling in which a real estate agent was charged with alleged price gouging for allegedly increasing the rent of a couple’s home by 38% after they applied to rent the property.
The state’s Department of Justice is actively investigating and prosecuting price gouging cases related to the Southern California wildfires, and has sent over 650 warning letters to hotels and landlords accused of price gouging.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has extended emergency orders that prohibit price hikes of more than 10% in Los Angeles County through March 8, 2025. The restrictions apply to existing tenants and new leases during the emergency period.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement, “In the face of natural disaster, we should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off of their pain. Today’s charges are another example of DOJ’s commitment to put an end to price gouging.”
