Here is the rewritten text: In June, Jay Gilberg purchased a spacious five-bedroom, 4,800-square-foot home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, with the intention of blending his two daughters, his girlfriend, and her teenager into a harmonious household. However, six months later, the devastating Palisades Fire destroyed his new home, along with an estimated 5,000 other properties in the area. As Gilberg and his real estate agent searched for a temporary residence to accommodate his family of five, they were shocked to discover a significant spike in rental prices.
One particular rental home in Beverly Hills, previously listed at $14,000 per month, suddenly increased by $4,000 overnight – a nearly 29% price surge attributed to “supply and demand,” according to the listing agent. Gilberg expressed his disappointment at encountering individuals who saw the tragedy as an opportunity for profit, contrasting them with those who genuinely wanted to help.
Numerous displaced individuals like Gilberg are facing exorbitant rental rates in the aftermath of the wildfires, with instances of monthly fees more than doubling in some cases. To address this issue, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order prohibiting predatory pricing on essential goods and services, including housing. Violating this order by increasing prices more than 10% above pre-emergency rates is now illegal.
The Los Angeles Tenants Union has identified over 500 property listings with sudden rental price hikes, and reports of price gouging have flooded the California Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the unethical nature of profiting off people’s desperation during such challenging times and urged the public to provide evidence of price gouging to aid in investigations.
Real estate agent Lori Goldsmith condemned the exploitative behavior, recounting how she distanced herself from a client attempting to capitalize on others’ misfortunes. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who oversees the Palisades Fire-affected district, emphasized the seriousness of preventing price gouging in housing, stating that affected individuals need security and protection from such practices during this crisis.
The wildfire victims are facing immense challenges, with many struggling to find stable housing and deal with the aftermath of losing their homes and possessions.
A 7-year-old Holocaust survivor, who had lost her Sunset Mesa home that she shared with her 88-year-old husband, Ed, during a devastating wildfire, recounted the harrowing experience. The couple managed to escape the encroaching flames with only their medication, some important documents, their dog, and a single change of clothes, anticipating a swift return home that never materialized. Instead, they found themselves confined to a hotel room for over a week, engaged in a fierce competition with fellow renters in their quest to find a new place to live.
Renee Weitzer, the survivor, shared the challenges they faced while searching for a rental property, lamenting how their offers, including one to pay $14,000 per month for a property listed at $8,000 with a full year’s rent in advance, were consistently overshadowed by others. “We’ve lost every house,” Weitzer disclosed. “And not only that, when you have to apply with the application, you have to pay for your credit check.”
With no success in securing a new residence, the Weitzers made the decision to temporarily relocate to their nephew’s one-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood. They aimed to navigate the complexities of the insurance claims process while deliberating on their future steps. Weitzer expressed doubts about the feasibility of rebuilding at their age, acknowledging the significant time and effort it would entail. “It’s gonna take a while,” she remarked. “Whether we could ever rebuild, it’s questionable at our age, because it’s gonna take years to be able to do this right …. I don’t think we’ll be able to rebuild.”
The ordeal faced by the Weitzers serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of natural disasters on individuals and communities. The resilience displayed by this elderly couple in the face of such adversity resonates deeply, underscoring the challenges and uncertainties that often accompany the process of rebuilding and recovery following a calamity of this magnitude.
Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski; Additional reporting by Nathan Frandino and Lisa Richwine; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler
