Los Angeles wildfires: Second California real estate agent charged with price gouging victims

Another realtor has been accused with allegedly price gouging victims of the fatal wildfires destroying communities in Southern California, according to state investigators. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Tuesday that the agency is charging an unnamed real estate agent with trying to price gouge a family that was evacuated because of the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. According to Bonta, an investigation found that the family started looking for rentals through their real estate agent after being evacuated in the Eaton fire, and they asked about renting a house in Glendale. The realtor, according to the prosecution, gave the family a rental house in Glendale, but the rent was more than half what it was before the fire.

Through March 8, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom has extended emergency decrees that forbid price increases of over 10% in Los Angeles County. The decree states that both new leases and current tenants are subject to the limitations during the emergency period. “In the face of natural disaster, we should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off of their pain,” Bonta stated in a news release. “Today’s charges are another example of DOJ’s commitment to put an end to price gouging.” According to Cal Fire, the fires have destroyed over 12,000 houses, businesses, and schools, forcing over 100,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Bonta’s office claimed in order to protect Californians affected by the Southern California wildfires, The Department of Justice (DOJ) is vigorously investigating and prosecuting price gouging. According to Bonta, the DOJ has issued over 650 warning letters, and more are on the way to lodging facilities and landlords who have been charged with price gouging. “May this announcement serve as a stern warning to those who would seek to further victimize people who have lost everything in the face of Southern California’s wildfires: We won’t stop until the price gouging does,” Bonta said.

According to Bonta’s office, anyone found in violation of the price gouging act faces criminal prosecution, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Price gouging violators may also face civil enforcement actions, which include forced restitution, injunctive remedies, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per infraction. Another real estate agent was accused of similar price gouging last week, according to Bonta’s office, when a couple applied to rent a house and were told that the price had gone up by 38% after the application was received.