Fighting Back Against Price Gouging During California Wildfires: Your Rights as a Tenant

Fighting Back Against Price Gouging During California Wildfires: Your Rights as a Tenant

Fighting Back Against Price Gouging During California Wildfires: Your Rights as a Tenant

California Wildfires and Rental Property Rights: Proposed Laws to Fight Price Gouging

The California wildfires have created a housing crisis, leaving many renters vulnerable to illegal rent increases. Unfortunately, some landlords exploit these emergencies, charging rents far above what is fair or legally allowed. If you’ve experienced this, it’s important to know your rights and how proposed legislation, such as AB-246, could offer even stronger protections.

What Is AB-246?
AB-246 is a proposed bill designed to strengthen protections against rental price gouging in the wake of disasters, such as the California wildfires. If signed into law, AB-246 would:

Prohibit landlords in Los Angeles County from raising rents beyond the amount charged on January 7, 2025, during a declared state of emergency.
Extend these protections for up to 12 months after the emergency ends.
Empower district attorneys to enforce violations and impose penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 per infraction.
While this bill is not yet law, it represents a significant step toward holding landlords accountable for exploiting vulnerable tenants during emergencies.

What Are Your Rights Under Current Law?
Even without AB-246, California already has strong laws protecting tenants from price gouging during a declared state of emergency. These laws:

Prohibit rent increases of more than 10% during an emergency.
Allow tenants to pursue refunds and, in some cases, treble damages (up to three times the amount of the overcharge).
What You May Be Entitled To
If you believe your landlord raised your rent unlawfully during or after the wildfires, you could be entitled to:

A Full Refund: Reimbursement of any overcharged rent.
Treble Damages: In cases of egregious misconduct, you may recover up to three times the amount of the overcharge.
For example, if your landlord overcharged you $2,000, you could recover $6,000 in treble damages.

Our No-Risk, No-Cost Guarantee
At Telleria, Telleria & Levy, we are committed to fighting for your rights without adding to your financial burden. Here’s what makes our approach risk-free:

No Upfront Costs: You pay absolutely nothing to start your case.
We Only Get Paid If You Win: If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
Contingency Fee Structure: Our payment is a percentage of your recovery, ensuring that we are fully invested in achieving the best possible outcome for you.
This means that if you don’t recover anything, we don’t get paid—guaranteeing no financial risk for you.

California’s Commitment to Tenant Protections
While AB-246 is still under consideration, it highlights California’s ongoing efforts to protect tenants during emergencies. These proposed measures build on existing laws to provide even greater security and accountability for renters.

How to Recognize Price Gouging
You may be a victim of rental price gouging if:

Your rent increased significantly without notice or justification.
Your landlord charged rates higher than what is allowed under current rent control laws during the emergency.
You were pressured to pay higher rent under threat of eviction.
Take Action to Protect Your Rights
If you suspect you’ve been overcharged, don’t wait to act. You have the right to recover your money and hold landlords accountable for illegal rent increases.

Schedule a Free Consultation
At Telleria, Telleria & Levy, we are dedicated to protecting tenants’ rights and ensuring landlords are held accountable for price gouging. Whether under current laws or proposed legislation like AB-246, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you and fight for the recovery you deserve—all at no cost to you unless we win your case.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you protect your rights and recover what you’re entitled to.

Speak with an experienced attorney at Telleria Telleria & Levy and Let Us Be Your Voice!!

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