Airbnb, a company that brokers private apartments, exceptionally requires hosts to keep apartment rents unchanged. The authorities also warn against price speculation.
Increasing winds have ignited another large wildfire in California.
The fire that raged north of Los Angeles on Wednesday spread to an area of more than 3,800 hectares in a few hours, reported the Los Angeles Times, among others.
A total of 31,000 people were ordered to evacuate in the Castaic area of Los Angeles County.
Several wildfires have raged around Los Angeles this month. The two biggest fires are still being extinguished. They have burned a total of more than 16,000 hectares of land.
At the same time as the fires threaten to spread, the president Donald Trump use firefighting and rescue work management as one example Joe Biden about the failure of the administration.
– They have caused incredible things in Los Angeles. 40 percent of the fire trucks’ water tanks were empty. said Trump while meeting with reporters earlier this week.
According to the president, the extinguishing water has been wasted. The Fox News channel reported on the matter, among others.
Trump plans to visit Los Angeles today, Friday. According to him, the fire spared no one, not even the wealthiest residents of Los Angeles.
At least 28 people have died in the fires.
A couple of thousand dollars “fire allowance”
The fire destroyed twelve thousand properties. The loss of homes adds pressure to an already very expensive California housing market.
Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes and are now in need of a new rental apartment. Rent increases have already been made, says, among others, The New York Times newspaper.
Attorney General of the State of California Rob Bonta has appealed to housing business operators not to rob the homeless in a difficult situation.
– Prices cannot be raised at the expense of the victims of the disaster, Bonta said at the end of last week.
The appeal seems to fall on deaf ears. For example, a three-room apartment in Palisades was asking $5,500 a month in October. Now the asking rent is $8,500.
Legislation is trying to curb the increases
California law prohibits housing speculation in exceptional circumstances. According to the legislation, increases of more than 10 percent in the price of goods, services or housing are illegal.
Violations can result in a year in prison or a $10,000 fine. In general, the ban on increases is valid for one month. Now the ban on increases in living expenses is valid until November.
Airbnb, a company that brokers short-term rental apartments, has also announced that it will follow the exception guidelines. Hosts who have made large increases will be removed from the company’s website.
Some of the residents of Los Angeles were homeless even before the wildfires started. We are trying to find temporary accommodation for them. City dwellers who have taken out home insurance are in a better position. They can receive compensation for daily expenses or hotel accommodation.
Among others, Bank of America, Citi and Wells Fargo have announced that they will grant deferments for the payment of monthly mortgage installments.
Reuters, STT