Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim accuses LA landlords of ‘illegally’ raising rental prices to cash in on the catastrophic wildfire after 12,000 homes were destroyed

As a devoted fan, I’m sharing that Jason Oppenheim from Selling Sunset has spoken out against unscrupulous landlords in L.A., alleging they’ve been trying to take advantage of the wildfires by hiking up rent illegally.

In my dedication, I’ve witnessed over 12,000 homes being leveled to the ground, and a staggering 37,000 acres of land scorched, as this relentless fire ravages through the southern California city where I faithfully follow its progress.

47-year-old celebrity realtor Oppenheim, famous for his recurring roles on the Netflix reality series Selling Sunset, has spoken out against local property owners for disregarding state regulations that prevent exploitation during times of natural disasters.

On BBC politics show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, an obviously emotional Oppenheim stated: “I believe it needs to be brought to light, however, some landlords are exploiting the circumstances.

As a dedicated follower, I encountered a client in search of a rental property. The monthly rate for a house we presented was set at $13,000. Eager to secure the property, my client proposed an increased monthly payment of $20,000 and offered to pay six months’ rent upfront. However, the landlord declined, insisting on a higher price of $23,000 per month instead.

He stated: ‘Currently, California has laws against price gouging. However, these laws are not being enforced at the moment, and it’s inappropriate to exploit situations like this. Additionally, it is unlawful to capitalize on a natural disaster.’

‘I researched the law last night. You cannot charge more than 10% pre-disaster market rates.’ 

People living in Los Angeles are being urged to leave their houses, and stringent water conservation measures have been enforced due to the devastating fire that has sadly taken 16 lives up to this point.

Approximately 153,000 people have been instructed to leave their homes due to mandatory evacuation notices, while around 57,000 buildings continue to be in potential danger. Authorities report that at least 13 individuals are still unaccounted for.

Oppenheim couldn’t find the right words to express it, he had never thought something like this would occur in this place,” he stated.

Perhaps it’s a sign of my innocence. However, places such as Altadena are predominantly working-class neighborhoods, and the residents there didn’t just lose their houses; they also lost their possessions, including their clothing.

Moving past the estimated financial loss between $50 billion and $100 billion, it’s clear that the situation is deeply affecting everyone. People seem to be filled with emotion and tears, not only due to the smoke but also because witnessing such hardship stirs deep feelings in us all.

He added: ‘We are so resilient… we’ll rebuild better and with stronger foundations.’

Closures have occurred on several exits from the 405 Freeway such as Getty Center Drive, Skirball Center Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Olympic Boulevard. These closures aim to minimize traffic in the West Los Angeles region.

As per the reports from California Fire (Cal Fire), at present, there are no less than six active fires. Among these, the Palisades fire stands out as the most extensive.

Last night, LA officials announced a health crisis in the entire county because of deteriorated air quality caused by the fires. They warned that this air quality issue presents both immediate and future threats to people’s health.

While airplanes persistently discharge fire-retardant substances over Mandeville Canyon to establish a protective buffer around residences, federal authorities stay vigilant in searching for potential arsonists.

In other places, there’s been a lot of justified outrage towards famous individuals, such as Kim Kardashian, who are criticized for their excessive and wasteful use of water resources during times when those resources could have been utilized to protect homes instead.

Water-saving regulations have been enforced since the year 2022, limiting ‘regular’ homeowners to watering their gardens only two times per week, each session lasting no more than eight minutes.

Last year, Kardashian, a resident of a $60 million mansion in The Oaks – an elite gated community close to the site of this week’s fires – was issued a fine by city officials due to excess water usage. Specifically, she used over 232,000 gallons of water beyond her allotted amount.

Other celebrities including Sylvester Stallone and comedian Kevin Hart were also fined.

The Mail on Sunday understands Kardashian has since installed water-saving measures.

As an ardent admirer residing next door to a renowned TV figure, I’ve observed something quite intriguing. These celebrities seem to carry a certain air of… well, perceived privilege. It’s as if they believe they’re entitled to special treatment, and it’s fascinating from my perspective.

In this scenario, everyone had been advised to conserve water due to the current circumstances, with the aim of saving it for firefighting purposes. However, some people persisted in using water despite facing fines, as they could afford the associated costs.

As a lifestyle advisor, I’ve been witnessing a trend that’s causing quite a stir – the affluent resorting to private firefighters who charge a hefty $2,000 per hour to safeguard their estates. This growing phenomenon has sparked conversations about wealth disparity and access to resources during times of crisis.

In simpler terms, Chris Dunn, who runs Covered 6 and caters to high-profile clients in Hollywood, mentioned to the Mail on Sunday that his phone has been extremely busy with calls. He added that demand for their services has never been greater before.

A well-off individual commented: ‘Recent occurrences indicate that the city may not ensure the safety of your assets. Given my financial status, it seems reasonable for me to do so.’

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2025-01-12 15:18

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