A
Beverly Hills real estate agent has been charged with violating California's price-gouging law after allegedly raising rents by 30% on two properties following the January wildfires in LA. This is a clear example of the real estate industry prioritizing profits over people's well-being, and it highlights why rent control is necessary to rein in predatory landlords.

    A recent white paper published in the Harvard Business Review also made this point, noting that the real estate industry often uses high-volume eviction models to make big profits. In Milwaukee, for instance, certain ZIP codes have seen a high volume of evictions, with many companies using shell corporations or real estate trusts to avoid detection.

    This predatory behavior is not limited to one region; it's a widespread issue in the real estate industry. In Florida, a Miami developer allegedly hired hitmen to kill his wife, while in New York, a son was sentenced to life in prison for ordering a hit job on his father and brother to take over their family's real estate empire.

    These cases illustrate the darker side of the real estate industry, where some individuals are willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals. It's essential that politicians pass strong tenant protections, including rent control, to hold these predators accountable and ensure that housing is treated as a human right rather than a commodity to be exploited for profit.

    In California, Housing Is A Human Right has collected key reports and articles about rent control, corporate landlords, and the real estate industry in one article. We recommend sharing this information with others to raise awareness about the need for stronger tenant protections.