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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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Rent hike limits under a key state law fell from 10% to 8.8% for many SoCal renters in 2023. Here’s what to do if your landlord demands more.
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Under the state’s Tenant Protection Act, August brings new caps on how much many landlords in L.A. and Orange counties can raise rents.
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L.A. tenants who didn't pay rent early in the COVID-19 pandemic must repay their debts by Tuesday. If they don’t, they could lose their housing.
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Striking actors protested outside movie studios and streamer HQs, the first time both actors and writers have gone on strike together since 1960.
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A Private School Wants To Build On A Beloved Studio City Golf Course. Hundreds Of Residents Weigh InHarvard-Westlake plans to build a gym, athletic fields and a swimming pool on a historic golf course. Here's why some Studio City residents want to stop the project.
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A proposal still in early stages aims to start out by giving free eviction attorneys to low-income tenants in unincorporated parts of L.A. County.
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Extending a previous emergency declaration, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass promises better tracking of progress on homelessness.
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Tents may be the public face of homelessness across the region, but more people are living in vehicles. People living in their vans skyrocketed 44%.
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By some estimates, workers in L.A. County need to earn $42.73 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Now, many are hitting the picket lines.
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Tenant advocates warned that dismantling COVID-19 renter protections would cause homelessness to rise. Does that explain this year’s 9% increase?
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The region’s 2023 homeless count will provide a new snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in L.A. County.
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A new state bill aims to unlock church lands, giving religious groups the right to build housing “in God’s backyard.”
