Los Angeles is still reeling from the devastating Wildfires, and for renters, the crisis isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about staying housed. While landlords push rent hikes and city leaders delay protections, thousands of tenants are left wondering: What happens next?

Let’s break it all down.

The Los Angeles City Council just hit the brakes on a plan that would have protected renters from eviction and frozen rent hikes through January 2026【KCAL News: Julie Sharp】.

The proposal aimed to:
✔️ Block certain evictions for renters financially impacted by the fires.
✔️ Freeze rent increases citywide for two years.
✔️ Provide rental relief to workers who lost income.

But instead of approving it, they sent it back for more discussion—leaving tenants without clear protections just as February rent is coming due.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez pushed back on critics, saying:
👉 “This is not an eviction moratorium. This is an eviction defense.”
👉 “If you’ve lost your job due to the fires, you should have protections.”

Meanwhile, tenants are left waiting while rent notices roll in.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen landlords exploit a crisis. After the 2023 wildfires in Maui, rents spiked by 50%, evictions surged, and homelessness nearly doubled【Capital & Main: Jack Ross】.

Hawaiian officials tried to stop rent gouging by freezing prices, but loopholes let landlords: ❌ Evict tenants and charge new renters way more.
❌ Push massive rent hikes under the guise of “operating expenses.”
❌ Rent to FEMA at inflated rates, leaving locals priced out.

Fast forward to Los Angeles in 2025, and we’re seeing the same patterns:
📈 LA rents have already jumped 20% since the fires.
📈 Some neighborhoods near burn zones have seen rent DOUBLE.
📈 The City Council is still debating protections instead of enforcing them.

Advocates warn: If LA doesn’t act fast, we could be looking at a post-disaster housing crisis on the scale of Maui.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency declaration triggered California’s 10% rent cap law, making it illegal for landlords to raise rents above this threshold【CA Attorney General’s Office】.

So far, the crackdown includes:
⚖️ 500 landlords & hotels warned for suspected price-gouging.
⚖️ One landlord already facing charges for illegal rent hikes.
⚖️ DA Nathan Hochman pledging to “publicly shame” violators.

But here’s the problem: Hawaii’s officials made similar promises—and barely enforced them. Out of 247 complaints, just 35 violations were confirmed, and no landlords were penalized【ProPublica & Civil Beat】.

LA tenants aren’t waiting around. Activists have already built a spreadsheet of 1,400+ price-gouging complaints, proving that illegal rent hikes are happening right now. The question is—will city leaders act before it’s too late?

In the aftermath of LA’s devastating wildfires, many renters are facing an unexpected battle—illegal rent hikes and eviction threats from landlords looking to capitalize on the crisis. Enter The Rent Brigade 🚨, a grassroots tenant collective that has taken matters into their own hands by tracking and exposing price gouging across LA County.

📊 Over 1,400 reported cases are now in their growing database, and The Rent Brigade isn’t just documenting abuses—they’re building a case for enforcement 💪. Their work is helping tenants fight back against landlords who are violating California’s 10% rent increase cap—a law meant to prevent disaster profiteering but is too often ignored.

🔹 How They’re Helping:
✅ Creating a detailed spreadsheet 📝 cataloging reported rent gouging cases, equipping tenants with evidence to challenge illegal increases.
✅ Raising public awareness 📢 about these violations, pressuring city officials to take action.
✅ Assisting renters who don’t realize their rights after a disaster, ensuring they have the tools to fight back.

🚨 How You Can Report Price-Gouging:
If you or someone you know has received a suspicious rent increase 📈 after the fires, you can report it to The Rent Brigade through their website or community hotline.

💡 Why It Matters:
Renters in LA have long struggled with affordability, but after the fires, the stakes are even higher. The Rent Brigade is stepping in where enforcement has fallen short, ensuring that renters don’t get priced out of their homes during a time of crisis.

🔗 Learn More & Take Action:
For more information on The Rent Brigade’s efforts—or to report price-gouging—visit their website or follow them on social media 📲 to stay updated on their fight for fair housing.

🛑 No one should be forced out of their home because of an unjust rent hike. The Rent Brigade is making sure renters know their rights and have the power to stand up against abuse. 💪🏾🏡🔥

🔹 Check your rights – The 10% rent cap is in effect—if your landlord is charging more, report them.
🔹 Document & report price-gouging – If you get an illegal increase, file a complaint with Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.
🔹 Apply for FEMA help – Rental assistance is available, but you have to act fast.

💬 We want to hear from you! Have you seen price-gouging or unfair rent hikes in your area? Reply to this newsletter and tell us your story.

The Tenure View is here to keep renters informed, empowered, and protected. Let’s make sure no one gets priced out of LA. 🚪💙