LA real estate agent will pay $20K and face probation in post-Eaton Fire rent hike case

July 9, 2026 - 18:36

A Los Angeles-area real estate agent has been ordered to pay $20,000 and serve probation after he was caught raising the rent on a property following the devastating Eaton Fire. The case involved a couple who had been displaced by the blaze and were looking for a new place to live.

The agent, Mike Kobeissi, faced charges after the couple reported that the rent on a La Canada Flintridge home he had listed was suddenly increased when they expressed interest. The couple said they were told the price had gone up, an act that authorities described as illegal price gouging during a state of emergency.

Under the terms of the settlement, Kobeissi will pay the fine and remain on probation for a set period. The case highlights ongoing concerns about landlords and real estate professionals taking advantage of disaster victims. California law strictly prohibits raising rents by more than 10 percent after a state of emergency is declared, a measure meant to protect those who have already lost so much. The Eaton Fire, which forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed numerous homes, triggered such protections. Officials hope the penalty sends a clear message that such practices will not be tolerated.