LA Apartment Group Launches Housing Initiative for Wildfire Victims

The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) is calling on its members and other rental housing providers to share current listings of available rental units to help house victims of recent wildfires throughout the Los Angeles Area. The initiative seeks information on all types and sizes of available rental units to help those who have lost their homes find both temporary and long-term housing solutions.

“The wildfires throughout our region have left far too many in our community displaced from homes and in need of assistance,” said Matthew Williams, President of the Board of Directors of AAGLA and Principal of Williams Real Estate Advisors. “As rental housing providers, we have an absolute obligation and duty to assist fire victims with finding a place to live. We must do whatever we can to match wildfire victims with available housing.”

Property owners with available units can submit listings through AAGLA’s online input form located at List Units Here. The association has also created a listing of available resources and information to assist fire victims, including free applicant screening, located at their Resource Page.

“We call upon all property owners who have available units to help us in our efforts to provide relief to wildfire victims by offering them access to safe and affordable housing,” stated Daniel Yukelson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of AAGLA. “During this time of emergency, it is also incumbent upon local government to assist property owners in making available to wildfire victims much-needed housing by easing burdensome regulations and red tape, permitting rental of the thousands of unregistered safe and habitable dwelling units that exist today, and by suspending required minimum lease terms to encourage owners to make their rental units readily available.”

The association has warned rental property owners that under the declared State of Emergency, California’s anti-price gouging laws apply to all rental housing, generally prohibiting charging a price that exceeds more than 10% of the price charged prior to the declaration of emergency.

Founded in 1917, AAGLA promotes the highest levels of professionalism within the multifamily rental housing industry. It provides a wide array of services and benefits that meet the needs of rental housing providers of all sizes, including educational seminars and member events, expert operational advice, and an extensive library of forms needed to successfully own and manage rental properties. The Association serves as a powerful advocate and lobbyist for rental housing providers at the local, county, state, and federal levels of government. For more information, interested parties can visit www.aagla.org.