Jason, who sells Sunset, says landlords are price-gouging because of LA fires

Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim says landlords have been illegally raising home prices due to the Los Angeles wildfires.

The Los Angeles real estate mogul who owns a luxury real estate agency and is featured in a Netflix reality show says a client was being asked to rent a home for thousands of dollars more than the original asking price despite California's anti-“price gouging” laws.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials warned that anyone who “exploits” the disaster to defraud or steal from wildfire victims will be prosecuted.

Thousands of people have lost their homes in Los Angeles, and victims of displacement say they face sky-high rent and hotel bills.

Oppenheim said his company, known for selling some of the most expensive and glamorous homes in Los Angeles, is offering its services for free and has received dozens of calls from people who have lost their homes.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he described sending a client to visit a property where the landlord had previously demanded $13,000 a month in rent.

“(My client) offered $20,000 a month, he offered six months upfront, and the landlord said 'I want $23,000,'” he said.

“California has price gouging laws, but now they are being ignored and now is not the time to take advantage of this situation.”

The 47-year-old added that the disaster was “emotional for everyone”.

“Everyone had tears in their eyes all day, really because of the smoke, but also just because it was so touching to see people struggling like that,” he said.

California authorities are warning businesses not to illegally raise commodity prices to more than 10% above pre-disaster costs.

On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta also said he had seen landlords illegally raise prices.

“You can't do that. It's a crime punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine,” he said.

“This is a California law designed to protect those who have suffered from tragedy.”

Brian, a retiree who did not want his name used, lived in a rent-controlled apartment in Pacific Palisades for two decades and lost his home in the fire.

The 69-year-old fears his pension will not allow him to find a new home in a city where rents have doubled in the past decade.

According to property listing website Zillow, the median rent for a property in Los Angeles is $2,800 (£2,295).

“I'm back in the market with tens of thousands of people,” Bryan told AFP.

“That's not a good sign.”

Price gouging is just one example of the criminal behavior that has emerged during the disaster, which has killed at least 16 people.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned those who want to commit burglaries or “white collar crimes or fraud” that police and prosecutors are paying close attention.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald said “people will stop at nothing to do what they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy.”

McDonald said there were “a lot of scams out there” and warned those wanting to help donate to “exercise caution”.

He encouraged people to do their research to find reputable organizations, suggested using resources like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau, and urged residents to report fraud.

“Together we can prevent further harm and protect the generosity of our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, County Sheriff Luna said that about 29 people have been arrested so far in the fire, including a man who pretended to be a firefighter and burglarized a house.

He said police were “keen to prosecute” anyone “taking advantage of our residents during this very difficult time” and warned in particular to beware of “white collar” scams.

On Saturday, Los Angeles police said the number of robbery arrests “continues to increase.”

However, despite the malfeasance on the part of some, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said more than 13,000 people had donated more than $6m (£4.9m) to the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund since the fires began on Tuesday.