State officials have announced that another broker has been accused of alleged price for price guts victims Destroying South Californian communities from the deadly forest fires.
On Tuesday, the attorney -general Rob Bonta in California announced that the state is filing charges against a broker, who was not called, claiming that they were trying to praise a family that a family had been evacuated To the Los Angeles Eaton Fire.
Bonta said that an investigation has shown that the family went looking for rent through their broker after being evacuated in the Eaton fire and inquired about renting a Glendale house.
Prosecutors say that the broker has offered the family A rental home in GlendaleBut that the rent was more than 50% higher than the pre-Fire rental price.
La Fires: ‘Million Dollar Listing’ Stars Too bad alarm about illegal prize gushing
An aerial photo of beach houses destroyed in the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway, because forest fires cause damage and loss by the LA region on January 16, 2025 in Malibu, California. Several forest fires that were fed by intense Santa Ana winds were burned by Los Angeles County, leaving at least 27 deaths behind with more than 180,000 people who have been commanded under evacuation. More than 12,000 structures are burned in the Palisades and Eaton fires. (Mario Tama/Getty images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended care providers that prohibit such price increases of more than 10% in Los Angeles County until 8 March 2025.
“In the light of the natural disaster we should come together to help our neighbors, not try to take advantage of their pain,” Bonta said in a press release. “Today’s costs are another example of Doj’s dedication to put an end to price guts.”
Cal Fire reported that more than 12,000 houses, companies and schools have been lost due to the fires and that more than 100,000 people had to leave their houses.
A house stands between homes that have been destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Bonta’s office said to protect the Californians by protecting The South California forest fires, The Ministry of Justice (DOJ) is actively investigating price guts.
The DOJ has sent more than 650 warning letters, with more coming to hotels and landlords accused of price guts, Bonta said.
The California police arrest two in Palisades Fire evacuation zone after ‘suspicious’ behavior
Flames and smoke arise from structures while the Palisades burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, US January 8, 2025. (Reuters/Ringo Chiu)
“May this announcement serve as a strict warning for those who want to try to make people further victim who have lost everything in the face of the forest fires in South California: we won’t stop until the price guts do,” Bonta added to it .
The Bonta office said that all offenders of the price status of the prize are subject to criminal prosecution that can lead to a maximum fine of one year in prison in the prison of the province and/or a fine of a maximum of $ 10,000.
Those who are found in violation of price guts are also subject to civil enforcement actions, including civil fines of a maximum of $ 2,500 per violation, provisional exemption and mandatory refund.
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Last week the Bonta office reported that another broker was charged for similar alleged price guts, then a few applied to rent a house, But after the application was received, they were told that the price rose by 38%.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of price guts is encouraged to report it to their local authorities or to the attorney general at oag.ca.gov/lafires.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
