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State charges L.A. County realtor with price gouging after fires

Another Southern California realtor has been charged with price gouging victims of the wildfires in Southern California, state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced.

The realtor, who is not named, allegedly “attempted to price gouge a family who was evacuated due to the Los Angeles Eaton Fire,” Bonta’s office said in a news release.

Prosecutors say the realtor offered Eaton Fire victims a rental home in Glendale, but the rent was more than 50% higher than the pre-fire rent price. Such price increases are limited to 10% during the emergency that was declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“In the face of natural disaster, we should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off of their pain,” said Bonta. “Today’s charges are another example of DOJ’s commitment to put an end to price gouging.”

A second realtor was charged last week for another alleged price-gouging incident, and Bonta said his office has sent more than 650 warning letters to hotels and landlords who’ve been accused of illegally raising prices.

“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 added.

To report price gouging, call the state DOJ’s hotline at 800-952-5225 or visit oag.ca.gov/report.

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