(NewsNation) — Officials are warning landlords in the Los Angeles area against price gauging, which is prohibited in California during a state of emergency.
Nikko Santo Pietro, Los Angeles real estate agent and son of “Wheel of Fortune’s” Vanna White, said the supply of housing is “so limited” and that he can only imagine what the fires will continue to do for prices across Los Angeles County.
Santo Pietro said price gouging has previously been defined as raising prices by 10% over the preemergency price.
However, he’s awaiting guidance from the Department of Real Estate to clarify what is allowed and what isn’t allowed. For now, the exact definition of price gouging is in a “gray area.”
“We are seeing landlords and agents charging astronomical numbers for rent,” Santo Pietro said during an appearance on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” “It’s inhumane. It’s not right, morally. It’s illegal.”
At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles area wildfires that have been blazing since last week.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday there are 23 active missing persons cases in the county. Seventeen are in the Eaton Fire area, and six are in the Malibu area. All of those reported missing in the county are adults, Luna said. Los Angeles police said they are also working to look for six people unaccounted for in the city.
As the sheriff’s department continues grid-searching the Altadena area, Luna said at a press conference that they are “running across the remains of individual community members.”
“That is not easy work, very sad to report, and I believe that work is not only going to continue, but I believe we’ll continue to find remains,” he said.
