David Wagner
Housing Reporter
(he/him)
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. I help people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis.
I grew up in Anaheim, where my parents had the car radio constantly tuned to LAist 89.3 (formerly KPCC). Before coming to KPCC and LAist, I covered science for the NPR affiliate in San Diego, KPBS.
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Here’s what “The Rent Brigade” found after combing through 1,343 Zillow posts that appear to have broken California’s ban on post-fire price gouging. -
Attorney General Rob Bonta said he would go after alleged rent gougers, and this week his office filed its first case. The agent strongly denies breaking the law. -
If approved, the proposal would ease Airbnb regulations and give new protections to tenants who open their doors to people and pets displaced by the fires. -
What happens to security deposits? Who pays for repairs? LAist answers these and other questions from tenants affected by the L.A. fires. -
Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed his office is building cases against those suspected of raising rents by more than 10% after the L.A. fires. -
A proposal to freeze rents and protect Angelenos affected by wildfires from eviction was sent to committee while other emergency motions passed unanimously. -
The region already had a severe shortage of affordable housing. With thousands of families displaced by fires, it’s now even worse. -
For one listing, rent jumped nearly 86% since September. In an interview with LAist, the agent said she told her client, “People are desperate, and you can probably get good money.” -
The L.A. City Council has failed to vote on new rent control limits ahead of a looming Feb. 1 deadline. Should increases be put on hold? -
Judge rules L.A. illegally tried to change the rules for a program to streamline affordable housing in neighborhoods with single-family homes.
Stories by David Wagner
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