From Ashes to Evictions: Post-Fire Rent Surge Displaces LA Residents

Despite legal protections, landlords hike rents up to 124 percent after Eaton and Palisades fires

In the wake of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles County residents face a mounting housing crisis. Displaced families, already grappling with the loss of their homes, now confront skyrocketing rents and limited affordable housing options.

“I’m being confronted with this feeling of panic… the margins are getting thinner.”
— Sam Delfavero, a Pasadena resident whose home was damaged by ash, describing the anxiety of watching rents rise rapidly while searching for new housing
The Washington Post

According to a Los Angeles Times analysis by Liam Dillon, rents in ZIP codes within three miles of the Eaton Fire zone rose by 5.2 percent between December and April. In contrast, other parts of LA County rose by just 2.2 percent during the same period.

“People smell blood in the water.”
— Jeffrey Saad, a Compass real estate agent, commenting on the opportunistic behavior of some landlords and agents during the crisis
New York Post

These rent hikes come despite California's anti–price gouging law (Penal Code 396), which prohibits increases above 10 percent during a declared state of emergency. Yet multiple listings and tenant reports show landlords charging 30 to 124 percent more, with some units leaping from $2,500 to over $4,000 in a matter of months.

“People are so panicked and desperate to get into a house right now that they're just throwing money into the wind.”
— Laura Kate Jones, a Los Angeles-based realtor
New York Post

Enforcement is weak. Advocacy groups like the Rent Brigade have documented more than 8,000 listings that may violate price-gouging laws, but only a few criminal cases have been filed. Some landlords are using loopholes or simply ignoring the law, counting on limited capacity for legal follow-up.

In response, Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan introduced AB 246, a rent freeze proposal that would lock rental rates across LA County at January 7, 2025 levels and prohibit increases. Violations could trigger civil penalties of up to $10,000 per offense.

Meanwhile, local grassroots groups like Altadena Not For Sale are working to protect residents from displacement and corporate real estate grabs. Their petition to halt investor purchases in disaster zones continues to gain signatures as residents call for stronger safeguards and land trust solutions.

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Further Reading:

• LA Times: Rents surged after two massive fires. Can L.A. County stop price gouging?
  By Liam Dillon

• Washington Post: L.A. wildfires left thousands homeless. Now rents are spiking

• LAist Podcast: Imperfect Paradise on Fire, Rent, and Displacement

• California Apartment Association: Overview of AB 246 and Rent Freeze Proposal

• Change.org Petition: Stop Corporate Land Grabs in Disaster Zones (Altadena Not For Sale)