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.
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.
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.
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.
101 southbound past Bates Road
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.
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.
The bike path in Carpinteria. It crosses county lines into Ventura.
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.
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.
There’s a new simple way to report price gouging in LA: https://x.com/MayorOfLA/status/1878630125786566664
Is there something like this for SB?
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.
Please save the name calling for the EdHat comment section, you'll fit in much better there.
The huge dingleberry hanging from your dunce hat must be in your eyes bro!
RE. Harding bridge, it was built in the 1990's because of flooding.
If your monthly rent is more than what many make in a year you should not be receiving the same rental protections.
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.
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.
I thought so too, but I checked the price at my local coffee shop and it was the same. Yes, Whole Foods has bagels for $1.50 but that’s a grocery store
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...
Plus $2.50 for a spread
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.
Very sad about Dawn Patrol! I hope they open again in a better location. Their burrito with poached egg and their hashes were so good! Glad I just grabbed brunch there a couple of weeks ago to get one last taste!
Other rentals that increased their prices - I hope they are held accountable, shame on them for taking advantage of a devastating situation.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/0-Cima-Linda-Ln-Santa-Barbara-CA-93108/2062988778_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/122-Santa-Rosa-Pl-Santa-Barbara-CA-93109/15896051_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Summerland-CA-93067/15877399_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Summerland-CA-93067/130994193_zpid/
Really?
