Los Angeles landlords jack up rent by as much as 124%

Landlords in fire-ravaged Los Angeles have jacked up rents — in some cases by more than double the price — in violation of California law against price gouging as thousands of residents seek shelter.

By law, landlords are not permitted to raise the price of housing by more than 10% after a state of emergency has been declared.

But a search of local listings and horror stories from realtors show that many opportunistic landlords are openly flouting the law after the wildfires destroyed entire communities. Some 12,000 structures, from Malibu to Pacific Palisades to Altadena, have been left in ruins.