Jason Oppenheim, star of US reality programme Selling Sunset, said landlords are taking advantage of people being displaced due to the fires which began on Tuesday, just north of central LA, and have burned more than 12,000 structures.
Since offering to represent those who have lost their homes for free, the reality star said the Oppenheim Group agents have "received dozens and dozens of calls from people who have lost their homes in the fires".
"It's all hands on deck right now, but it’s really difficult because there are thousands of people who are displaced without places to stay", he told BBC One programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg.
"The hotels are overwhelmed all the way down to Newport Beach and even into San Diego you can’t get a hotel room right now.
"And even, unfortunately, and this is something that I want to discuss, because I think it should be exposed, but we’re having landlords taking advantage of the situation.
"I had a client – we sent him to a house that was asking 13,000 dollars (€12,600) a month – he offered 20,000 dollars (€19,500) a month, and he offered to pay six months up front.
"And the landlord said, "No, I want 23,000 dollars (€22,400) a month’. You know, there are price-gouging laws in California that are just being ignored right now.
"And this isn’t the time to be taking advantage of situations, and it’s also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster."
The death toll from the wildfires rose to 16 as crews battled to cut off the spreading blazes before potentially strong winds return that could push the flames toward some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Source: Press Association
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