High-End Rentals Are Going Through the Roof

••• The new southbound carpool lane between Santa Monica Road in Carpinteria and Sheffield Drive in Montecito has opened.

••• The fires in L.A. have inspired homeowners here to put their properties up for rent—sometimes at much higher prices than they asked in the past. The changes below are all from the last few days (and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are others).

UPDATE: One property listed above was repriced before the fires, so it’s not relevant here and has been removed. The property has two listings on Zillow, and while one showed a price change on January 10, the one other does show the price change in December.

UPDATE: While I understand that this is upsetting on the face of it, please remember that these are just numbers and dates, and there may very well be other factors—such as substantial improvements, and about which we know nothing—that have led to the price increases, and the timing could be accidental. (Take the property mentioned above as an example: it was innocent but got caught in the net, so to speak.) And under no condition should you call, email, or otherwise harass the agents or owners. Take that energy and do something positive with it.

UPDATE 1/15: It would be a little disingenuous for me to claim that I didn’t think people would make accusations of price-gouging, but I did not think we’d get into “report them!” territory, which makes me deeply uncomfortable—because we do not know the specifics about any particular property—so I’ve removed the addresses.

••• The spec reno at 1035 Coyote Road apparently got the message about that faux-rustic facade.

••• Mary Suding Antiques in Summerland has closed. According to an update on Google, it’s looking for a new location.

••• Speaking of antiques, after I posted about the Weeping Willow Inn in what used to be Spanishtown, P. sent in a photo of “the original sign for the Alameda Saloon that my father obtained from a Mr. Joe Lopez back in the early 60s. Mr. Lopez lived in the former Alameda Saloon and used to let my father and his buddies dig for old bottles around the saloon. As I recall, my father bartered an old washing machine for the sign. Note the spelling of the word ‘liqours’ on the bottom right side of photo.”

••• Japanese Breakfast plays the Santa Barbara Bowl on August 23.

••• “I wonder if you could shed any insight on the ‘Robbins Street Overpass’ that’s built on the Harding School campus on the Westside?” emailed B. “Obviously it connects the two parts of the campus in a car-free way—but It has always been strange to me that it’s a bridge, with a space underneath, but it’s too low for anyone to pass under it. Do you know how or why it came about?” Harding principal Veronica Binkley had this to say: “What I understand is that utilities run under the asphalt for the local homes. I have also heard that the road used to flood causing students and staff to use planks to get across the street. The space under the bridge is low to provide easy transport from side to side of campus and to afford a space for water to run should it flood. This is not ‘official’ information, merely information based on what I have heard from former teachers and students.” My guess is that someone out there remembers when—and why—the bridge was built….

UPDATE 1/15. “I do know a bit about the Harding bridge,” commented Meredith. “We moved to Mountain Avenue in 1976 when I was 12 years old. Mission Creek naturally flowed from Oak Park west to the Westside, right near present day Harding School, but was diverted for the housing boom that occurred between 1926 and 1936. There was also quite a (natural) flow from the West Valerio Canyon post rains (when it used to rain). So the block of W. Valerio St., Mountain Ave, Robbins St. and the alley (the continuation of what is in line with W. Arrellaga) became quite flooded and kids couldn’t cross the street from the big side to the little side to get to the cafeteria. Maureen, a local woman whose father was the custodian, told me that her dad would carry kids across the ‘river’ so they could have their lunch in the cafeteria which was on the “little side” where the K-3rd grade was. My brother Lucas and I would actually boogie board down the alley on rainy days. A very wimpy bridge was built in the ’50’s, about one foot above the street, and then finally in the 1980’s the present bridge was constructed.”

••• “Stomp” is at the Granada Theatre on January 21. It’s been decades since I saw the show, but I remember it fondly, and I think it’s excellent entertainment for kids.

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Comment:

35 Comments

Gwen

So much more of this going on than what’s listed here. On the “lower end” of the luxury rental market you have listings like winding creek – a red zone total rebuild – increasing from $19,999 to $25,000 per month overnight. Or cima linda a furnished rental increasing from $15,000 to $18,000. Typically you see rentals decrease in price the longer on market, now the opposite is happening and it’s so very transparent.

Reply
Courtney

My understanding is newsom added an emergency declaration that includes a ban on price gouging for rentals, which is defined as any price increase of more than 10% compared to pre-disaster prices.

Does this only apply to la area? I’m tempted to call these listings and ask if they know about this.

Reply
Seth

Just for informational purposes and what is legal and not, Los Angeles County’s declaration of emergency has no bearing on Santa Barbara County, therefore large rent increases are perfectly legal in SB, bearing in mind that statewide you cannot increase rents more than 10% on existing renters. If your renters vacate the property then you can charge whatever the market will bear just like during Covid. At 100 miles, I frankly do not find Santa Barbara a “comp” market to Los Angeles. Where do you draw the line, Monterrey? Those with massive means who are up here can just as easily go to SFO, New York or beyond. If you’re going to waste your time and energy turning in local homeowners (for nothing), do it where it counts, in LA County.

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SEL

Yes, the 10% does apply to LA, SB, and all of California. We just had a state-wide meeting about this. The price increase maximum is 10% of the last rental agreement price. There are a lot of misstatements in this thread. Please be aware of damaging someone’s reputation based on misinformation. You must know the history of the property and the circumstances.

Reply
Ron Brand

You are mistaken on Ayala
That house was completely re-furnished and re- done and was re-priced before the fires, the I’m happy to send you a copy of the listing agreement, please amend your post

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Christine!

I clicked on it too- and it says it’s been for rent, at that price, FOR 1 DAY 😂

Reply
Mike

It appears the Ayala Lane was listed for rent ($125,000/mo) on 1/11/25. Your listing at 2084 Alisos also was just listed with an increased rental.

Maybe speak with your clients and understand how tone-deaf this looks at a time like this. Our community should be reducing rents and offering what we can for our neighbors to the south.

Reply
Ron Brand

Hi Mike
Alisos is a summer rental which is not available until May 2025 ( pls read the listing description )this house was originally priced at $40k
This listing agreement was in place before the fires broke out.

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Christine!

Price gouging is illegal and I hope the mother truckers that bumped up the pricing on their rentals see ash raining down around them one day, when they least expect it.

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Bettye Jones

Hopefully the AG reads Siteline and investigates the price gouger rentals

Reply
Eleni

Inflating the pricing on remtals is so disgusting at anytime but especially during a crisis.

Reply
EB

While I appreciate everyone is against price gouging in principal, I don’t think the people already in the market for a $40k monthly rental are going hungry if they have to pay more to move to SB or Montecito short-term.

Now during COVID, I remember rents going up 50% in the area, and for things priced in the $3-10k range. Everyone was desperate to get out of LA, just for a different reason.

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SBSL

Same. Good for you if you can afford $480,000 a year in rent. You don’t need anyone’s support.

If you struggle to pay $2000 and are getting gouged and run out of the market because someone wants to now charge $3000 the next week that might be a different story.

Reply
Just a person

It’s not just “high end” rentals. I already spotted a $300/month increase to a regular Goleta residence I had been watching. It was already a little over budget but now it’s too over the top. I’m so worried because I’ve already been house hunting for weeks as our landlords are selling. We’re running out of time and now I see rental rates increasing and available rentals decreased even more.

Reply
Sam Tababa

Quite entertaining to watch the “Free Market Conservatives” get upset that the market is active and that the Government regulations and services they rail against daily, (and go out of their way to deny to others), are lacking where they “feel” they’re needed most…

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Bettye Jones

Interesting attempt to finger point at and label those who care about victims of disasters. Those who believe in free market principles are not always conservatives, and frequently have moral and ethical concerns about interruptions such as price gouging. There are also plenty of “Free Market Progressives.” They just tend to pretend otherwise.

Reply
Sam Tababa

Bullseye.

Funny how these folks always self-identify. Sure makes them easy to avoid… In fact, you will know all about their ‘world view’ just by the color of their hat and their incessant need to broadcast their spoon-fed ignorance.

I appreciate the candor, it’s the cherry on the top of the self awareness.

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Christine!

The huge dingleberry hanging from your dunce hat must be in your eyes bro!

Reply
Jefferson A.

Please save the name calling for the EdHat comment section, you’ll fit in much better there.

Jefferson A.

If your monthly rent is more than what many make in a year you should not be receiving the same rental protections.

Reply
SBSL

I agree on this point. If you have the means to rent a house for $50,000-$75,000 a month – or you own a house that rents for the same – I’m not really concerned about “affordability” for you.

Reply
Marti

DRE just sent out this bulletin: REPORT THEM. To protect California consumers affected by wildfires, DRE will diligently investigate complaints of unlawful price gouging related to rental housing by licensees and will take appropriate disciplinary action if the evidence warrants. The law (Penal Code section 396) is intended to protect victims of disasters from being further harmed.

Price gouging is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Charges of unlawful business practices can also be brought against licensees who violate anti-price gouging laws.

DRE encourages all licensees to share in the commitment to helping, rather than taking advantage of wildfire survivors.

If you are a consumer who believes they may be a victim of price gouging as it relates to real estate transactions and rental housing, complaints can be submitted to DRE at: https://dre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html.

Reply
Meredith Brace

I do know a bit about the Harding bridge. We moved to Mountain Avenue in 1976 when I was 12 years old. Mission Creek naturally flowed from Oak Park west to the Westside, right near present day Harding School, but was diverted for the housing boom that occurred between 1926 and 1936. There was also quite a (natural) flow from the West Valerio Canyon post rains (when it used to rain). So the block of W. Valerio St., Mountain Ave, Robbins St. and the alley (the continuation of what is in line with W. Arrellaga) became quite flooded and kids couldn’t cross the street from the big side to the little side to get to the cafeteria. Maureen, a local woman whose father was the custodian, told me that her dad would carry kids across the “river” so they could have their lunch in the cafeteria which was on the “little side” where the K-3rd grade was. My brother Lucas and I would actually boogie board down the alley on rainy days.

A very wimpy bridge was built in the ’50’s, about one foot above the street, and then finally in the 1980’s the present bridge was constructed.

Reply
Christine

This is sadly not unique to SB. Everyone with a property to rent is seeing $$. We have seen “bidding wars” on properties during this time here in LA. It’s been discouraging to say the least. We are among the displaced. Home is destroyed. Listed rental prices change upon arrival at showings “it’s listed at X but we’ve received an offer of X+Y so you may want to increase your offer”. Predatory.

Reply
SEL

Now, that IS illegal; even if the person agrees to pay more, it’s unlawful. I’m so so sorry for the loss of your home. There is nothing worse.

Reply
DJ

OF COURSE the regulations against price gouging apply to Santa Barbara! They are state-wide regulations; people have to leave LA to find homes. There is no line to draw. But what a bad example, 18K per month to 21K. We are talking about landlords who raise rents from $1500 to $2500 or $3000 to $6000. That is backbreaking for most middle class families. And being a real estates lawyer I can tell you, Seth, “LARGE RENT RAISES” are NOT “PERFECTLY LEGAL” in Santa Barbara or anywhere else in the state, there is a state-wide rent cap. Stop giving advice about things you know nothing about.

Reply