Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire in a home along the Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 8, 2025. A wildfire broke out in Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a briefing Wednesday.
Los Angeles, California – California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday announced criminal charges against a Beverly Hills real estate agent accused of exploiting displaced residents by illegally raising rents in the wake of the deadly Palisades Fire earlier this year.
The agent, Iman Eshaghyan, is facing two misdemeanor counts for allegedly listing and leasing two rental properties at prices that exceeded California’s disaster-related rent increase cap. The properties, located in Beverly Hills, were marketed to individuals forced to leave their homes due to the fire that began in January and triggered a statewide emergency declaration by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Under California law, landlords are prohibited from increasing rent by more than 10% following an emergency declaration. The law is intended to protect disaster victims from predatory pricing as they navigate housing insecurity. Prosecutors say Eshaghyan violated that rule by raising rent by 30%—three times the legal limit.
Eshaghyan, who did not comment directly on the charges, is listed on his LinkedIn page as being among the top 1% of sales associates at Coldwell Banker Commercial, a prominent real estate franchise. He reportedly deferred questions to his attorney, who has not yet responded publicly.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized that these charges represent a broader effort to deter opportunistic behavior following disasters. “We will not stand by while Californians displaced by wildfires are further victimized by those seeking to profit from their hardship,” Bonta said in a statement, encouraging tenants to come forward with their stories.
This case marks the latest in a string of prosecutions targeting alleged price gouging in California’s red-hot housing market. In January and February, Bonta also filed similar charges against three other real estate agents accused of exploiting disaster victims for profit. All of them have denied the allegations.
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced separate charges earlier this year involving another agent and homeowner who allegedly engaged in price gouging under similar circumstances. They, too, have denied any wrongdoing.
The Palisades Fire left residents scrambling for temporary housing amid an already strained rental market in Los Angeles, where vacancy rates remain low and rent prices high. The state has since urged residents affected by the fires to report potential violations.
Tenants can file complaints through the attorney general’s website or by calling the state’s consumer protection hotline. Officials encourage individuals to preserve all documentation—such as texts, emails, and screenshots—that may serve as evidence in ongoing investigations.
