
As the impact of so many people losing their homes in the foothill communities and across Los Angeles comes into full view, I stepped back and realized that a number of people are about to need help with the marketplace for rental homes in the Los Angeles region.
For the past 20 years, I have managed a small rental property in Los Angeles and worked as a realtor in the Coldwell Banker office in Pasadena, CA where I mainly help to broker the sale of homes and rental properties in LA County. Having a deeper level of experience with rentals than many allows me to quickly guide people in the steps required to put together a plan and find a great place to rent in Los Angeles. The information below is shared with you in the spirit of providing actionable advice and help at no charge.
There are 3 major sources to find rental housing in Los Angeles and surrounding areas that I know of and you should be prepared with details and information to help you as you look for medium term and long term housing options in the area if you are impacted by the recent fires.
1- Informal networks and word of mouth (valuable right now)
2- Zillow/Hotpads/Trulia. The same back end and this is the most broad advertising platform in my area. Best for apartments
3- Realtor advertised rentals. Typically on the MLS and where you will find single family homes
If you are a homeowner and intend to rebuild your home, please know that my personal experience building small housing projects in Los Angeles City and County (Altadena) is that you should expect rebuilding to take AT LEAST 2 YEARS. Realistically, you need to find a place that you can stay for 2 years or longer but it can be really hard to make this type of commitment when so many things are changing in your life on a daily basis.
Short term, there are a number of uncommon things available.
Friends, hotels, family, distant options, vacation rentals, rentals in spaces that I’ve never considered. All of these are viable and you should focus on safety and sanity while preparing your next steps. Airbnb has some type of non-profit offering a week free but whatever you do, get a place that can house you for about 1 month right now. Even if your place is habitable, you may not be allowed back for 2-3 weeks. Most of the areas will have major challenges with water, sewer, power, and road access. Not to mention the environmental issues with the ash and fire debris.
Medium term, thinking 3-6 months out.
You can likely find more property owners willing to accommodate short term stays of under 1 year right now and in the coming weeks. That will disappear within a month as the impact of 1,000’s of people all looking for longer term options becomes a wave.
In this case, focus on your personal and family needs. School, work, etc become focal points but this may change. It may be an opportunity to move to another region and you should consider pretty much everything but focus on what you want and need.
Longer term, thinking 1+ years.
You will want to get on this right away to see the largest number of available options and be able to secure the places that meet your needs. If you have pets, the options are fewer. Be straightforward and you will find a good spot. If you have insurance proceeds to help you, find out what that includes. If you don’t, you need to evaluate the rental market quickly and the pricing might surprise you. Homes are going to be $4,000+ per month and likely higher.
Small tips to know:
– Get yourself to the website called Rentspree and order a credit report. Almost every property owner will accept this if they are smart. Cost is about $40/report www.rentspree.com – All rental applications will want to know your information about income, past residence, credit, who are the people and pets moving in. Get a basic application from me or another property manager and have it pre-filled out to save yourself time
– There is a renters market in Downtown Los Angeles right now. You may find a killer deal there right now and if you can handle urban living, jump on it.
– There are a number of recent laws that have dramatically altered the rental housing market and you will find that many property managers require things that seem funny. The worry that many property owners may not be able to articulate but have is that there are a number of people that have taken advantage of the tenant protection laws and COVID era policies in ways that are devastating. In addition, the City of Pasadena, City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles create lifetime rental contracts for any resident that enters a lease of over 29 days.
Provided by Adam Bray-Ali, CA DRE 01859026 as a service after the Eaton Fires of 2025. Having managed rental properties for 20 years and worked as a realtor in Pasadena, Adam Bray-Ali offers insights into housing options for those affected by the recent fire. No legal or financial guidance is intended. Please consult with your own attorney, realtor and financial advisor to make sure that your choices work for you.