R
enters in Southern California are pushing back against soaring prices by publicly shaming landlords on social media, a phenomenon known as "rent shaming." Would-be tenants are leaving scathing comments and emojis on Facebook housing groups and other platforms, calling out overpriced listings. For example, a landlord who listed a two-bedroom apartment in Glendale for $4,000 received comments claiming it was outrageous, but still found a tenant within a week.

    Renters see this as a form of resistance against price gouging, while landlords view it as cyberbullying that makes it harder to find tenants. The internet has democratized the real estate industry, allowing buyers and renters to compare prices directly with sellers and landlords. This transparency has made it easier for people to gauge whether a rental is a good deal or not.

    As apartment rents in greater Los Angeles have nearly doubled over the past decade, renters are using online platforms to warn others about high prices. For instance, someone commented on a listing of a 500-square-foot one-bedroom rental in Glendale asking $2,500 a month, saying "Whoever wants this should negotiate pretty hard." Rental sites like Zillow and Redfin provide data on previous rents, which some users use to criticize landlords for modest price increases.

    The Los Angeles area has become one of the priciest places to rent in the US, with 18 of its ZIP codes ranking among the top 100 most expensive. While some landlords argue that prices are reasonable, others see it as a sign of a broader affordability crisis.