Los Angeles, California – California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday announced criminal charges against a Beverly Hills real estate agent accused of exploiting displaced residents by illegally raising rents in the wake of the deadly Palisades Fire earlier this year.
The agent, Iman Eshaghyan, is facing two misdemeanor counts for allegedly listing and leasing two rental properties at prices that exceeded California’s disaster-related rent increase cap. The properties, located in Beverly Hills, were marketed to individuals forced to leave their homes due to the fire that began in January and triggered a statewide emergency declaration by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Under California law, landlords are prohibited from increasing rent by more than 10% following an emergency declaration. The law is intended to protect disaster victims from predatory pricing as they navigate housing insecurity. Prosecutors say Eshaghyan violated that rule by raising rent by 30%—three times the legal limit…