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David Wagner
What I cover
I cover housing in Southern California, a place where ever-rising rents and a persistent lack of affordable housing have led to many living on the edge of homelessness.
My background
I’ve been helping people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis for more than five years.
My goals
I want my coverage to help renters, landlords and anyone else affected by L.A.’s affordability issues navigate the region’s ongoing housing crisis.
Best way to reach me
I would love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns related to housing in Southern California. You can reach out by email. I'm at dwagner@laist.com. Or, if you have a tip you’d like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @reporterdavidwagner.38. For instructions on getting started with Signal, see the app's support page.
Stories by David Wagner
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Built in 1951, the glass-walled chapel is one of L.A.’s few national historic landmarks. This isn’t the first time it has been damaged by landslides.
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The city passed a law against harassing renters in 2021. But tenant advocates say enforcement has been lacking.
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If you adopted a pet during the pandemic, housing rights advocates say you should take a crucial step by March 5.
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Airbnb hosts in unincorporated areas of L.A. County could soon be barred from renting out properties they don’t live in.
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One of L.A. County’s busiest tenant law firms prevailed this week when a jury ruled in their favor.
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A pro-housing group has filed a second lawsuit challenging the city’s retroactive ban of fast-tracked affordable housing in lower-density neighborhoods.
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L.A. has frozen rents in rent-controlled housing since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Thursday, landlords can charge up to 6% more.
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Rent in L.A. was never canceled during the pandemic — only delayed. The city’s renters have until Feb. 1 to get all caught up.
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Now that L.A. officials know who landlords are trying to evict, city workers are showing up at renters’ doorsteps to offer help.
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A final vote on requiring air conditioning in L.A. apartments is still months away. But local landlord groups have begun fighting the idea.
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This means L.A. tenants who violated their leases during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting a pet will be protected from eviction.
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In her first week in office, Mayor Karen Bass exempted new low-income housing from lengthy environmental challenges. Why is the city now accepting appeals?
