Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim has claimed Los Angeles landlords are illegally raising rental prices amid the city’s wildfire disaster.
Speaking to BBC One on Sunday, January 12, the property mogul and reality TV star, 47, said he allegedly sent a client to a local property that had previously been requesting $13,000 per month in rent. Oppenheim said the client was then asked by the landlord for “$23,000” per month.
Oppenheim, who co-owns real estate brokerage The Oppenheim Group with his twin brother, Brett Oppenheim, told the outlet he condemned the behavior. “There are price gouging laws in California, they’re just being ignored right now, and this isn’t the time to be taking advantage of situations,” Oppenheim said during the interview.
The original Selling Sunset star, who rose to fame after first appearing in the show’s premiere in March 2019, added that the L.A. wildfires have left local residents completely broken since breaking out after a severe windstorm on Tuesday, January 7. “Everyone has tears in their eyes all day long, literally from the smoke but also just because it’s emotional to see people struggling like this,” Oppenheim told the outlet.
Oppenheim’s remarks come after Californian authorities warned business owners against illegally lifting item prices beyond 10% higher than the costs that existed prior to the wildfire outbreak.
The comments also come after Oppenheim announced on Thursday, January 9, that his company is donating services to displaced residents as a result of the fires. “If you’ve lost your home in the Los Angeles fires and you need to find a place to rent until your home is rebuilt, all Oppenheim Group agents will represent you for free or credit you back any commission we receive in the transaction,” Oppenheim wrote in an Instagram post that day. “Please reach out to us at office@ogroup.com.”
The star expanded on the initiative in a video, too. “I woke up this morning to a lot of friends and clients reaching out because they lost their homes over the last couple of days and they need help with places to live now,” Oppenheim said. “Their families are displaced and as real estate agents, we obviously have an obligation to help them find a place — even when it’s going to be difficult with thousands of people [are] looking for places and [there are] not nearly as many houses available.”
Several of Jason’s employees echoed Oppenheim’s sentiment in the video’s comments section, including Alexandra Jarvis, Davina Potratz, Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet, Polly Brindle and Chrishell Stause.
“We are ready to help down in OC! ❤️,” Selling the OC’s Brindle, 38, replied, while Fitzgerald Bonnet, 44, sent multiple heart emojis.
At the time of publication, the Associated Press reported that 24 people have died as a result of the L.A. wildfires, which broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and surrounding Los Angeles area last week. The outlet noted that at least 16 people were missing, with authorities warning that the number is “expected to rise.”
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
