Los Angeles County is taking significant steps to protect renters affected by recent wildfires, with the Board of Supervisors approving a motion to develop policies aimed at preventing eviction and excessive rent increases. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, was passed with a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining.
The proposed policies will restrict landlords from raising rents beyond the legal limit of 10% during a declared emergency and prevent evictions of tenants who have lost income due to the disaster. This move is in response to reports of rent hikes exceeding 50%, despite existing legal protections. To enforce these measures, the county is considering imposing fines of up to $50,000 per violation for landlords engaging in rent gouging.
Additionally, the county’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs has been tasked with developing strategies to curb exploitative rental practices. This includes addressing concerns over the use of algorithmic software by corporate landlords to manipulate rental prices. These efforts are intended to provide immediate relief to residents facing housing instability due to the wildfires and to ensure that they are not further burdened during the recovery process.
Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors’ Response
On behalf of the Pasadena Foothills Association of REALTORS® (PFAR) and our members, who represent thousands of rental housing providers and property owners across Los Angeles County, we strongly oppose aspects of the proposed policies, particularly those resembling Agenda Item 9 introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
While we understand and support efforts to assist those in need, we are concerned that broad eviction moratoriums unfairly place the financial burden of disaster recovery on small housing providers. The proposed blanket eviction defense for non-payment of rent without requiring any verifiable proof of economic hardship is ripe for abuse. It will further destabilize the housing market, leading to fewer affordable rental options in the long term.
Key Concerns with the Current Proposal:
- No Verifiable Proof of Financial Hardship – Renters may self-attest that they were impacted, opening the door to potential abuse, similar to what was experienced during COVID-19 rent moratoriums.
- Significant Financial Support Already Available – Renters have access to millions of dollars in assistance from FEMA, insurance carriers, County relief funds, and private organizations such as the California Community Foundation, L.A. Rises, and FireAid.
- Small Housing Providers Cannot Absorb the Cost – Many rental housing providers are still suffering from unpaid COVID-19 rent debt and cannot afford to subsidize renters for another year. The result will be forced sales of properties, reducing the stock of affordable rental housing and increasing gentrification.
- Eliminating Rental Income Harms the Entire Housing Market – This measure ignores the reality that housing providers must pay mortgages, property taxes, and maintenance costs. Without rent payments, properties will fall into disrepair, and more small landlords will be pushed out, consolidating housing into the hands of corporate developers.
A More Balanced Approach is Needed
Rather than implementing another sweeping eviction moratorium that fails to differentiate between those in true need and those who can pay but choose not to, we urge county officials to pursue targeted relief efforts that:
- Expand direct rental assistance to affected tenants, rather than shifting the burden onto private housing providers.
- Ensure any policy balances the rights of both tenants and property owners to prevent unintended consequences, such as increased evictions once protections expire.
PFAR remains committed to working with county officials on solutions that support both renters and housing providers. We will continue to advocate for fair policies that address housing stability without disproportionately harming property owners.
