Pasadena Native Paid Off Mortgage Day Before Eaton Fire Consumed Home
Losing Home, and Then Getting Price-Gouged
Pasadena native Totress Beasly took a devastating hit during the Eaton Fire, losing her home a day after paying off her mortgage.
“We evacuated not knowing our house was going to be on fire, but came back to ruins, it’s gone,” the 64-year-old told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe. “We’re in this circumstance with so many other people, victims of the fire.”
New Challenges Emerge
Beasly added that she and her son, Aaron Miller, are pushing on and dealing with a whole new problem, criminal landlords jacking up rent to unbelievable prices for even one-bedroom apartments.
“I’ve been quoted maybe 5,000 [a month],” Beasly said of a one-bedroom apartment she inquired about. “Some of my friends have talked to people and they said $6,000 plus and then one girl told somebody was charging $8,000.”
Her strategy, she said, is just to keep looking until she finds a landlord that cares more about humanity and less about their pocketbook.
Charred Remains of Totress Beasley’s Home
Price Gouging
In a Wednesday morning press conference, newly elected L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman did not hold back when speaking about landlords trying to exploit victims of the wildfires.
“The price gouging is particularly despicable, because these are people who are looking at this situation and asking how [they can] make the most amount of money from people desperately seeking housing, supplies and services because they’ve lost everything,” Hochman remarked. “I will tell you, with respect to this price gouging, we have seen people increase their prices for rooms [or] houses they are leasing by 100, 200 and 300 percent.”
Limits on Rent Increases
During the current state of emergency in L.A. County, landlords are prohibited from increasing rents by more than 10% above previously advertised rates.
Consequences for Landlords
Hochman and other county leaders have sent clear signals that criminal and civil penalties for price gouging will be enforced during the current state of emergency.
“Here again is my warning: If you’re one of those people who has engaged in price gouging, not only do you need to stop it immediately, I would strongly recommend that you go back and fix it…go back and refund the amount you have overcharged people,” he said. “We will certainly take that into consideration in deciding whether to charge you. So, if you want to abide by the law, you could benefit from it right this second.”
Intake System Launched
Los Angeles city officials have also launched a new “intake system” to receive reports of price gouging through the city’s 311 telephone number.
Conclusion
The Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire have left many individuals without homes and facing new challenges, including price gouging from criminal landlords. As the authorities work to hold these landlords accountable, it is essential for the community to be aware of their rights and report any instances of price gouging.
FAQs
* Q: What are the limits on rent increases during the state of emergency?
A: Landlords are prohibited from increasing rents by more than 10% above previously advertised rates.
* Q: What is the penalty for price gouging?
A: Criminal and civil penalties will be enforced during the current state of emergency.
* Q: How can I report price gouging?
A: You can report price gouging through the Los Angeles city’s 311 telephone number or the L.A. County District Attorney’s office.
