Jason Oppenheim
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesSelling Sunset‘with Jason Oppenheim has claimed that apartment owners in Los Angeles are illegally raising rents in the city fire disaster.
Speaking with BBC One On Sunday, Jan. 12, the real estate mogul and reality TV star, 47, said he allegedly sent a client to a local property that was previously asking $13,000 a month in rent. Oppenheim said the landlord was asking the client for “$23,000” a month.
Oppenheim, who co-owns real estate brokerage The Oppenheim Group with his twin brother, Brett Oppenheimhe told the newspaper that he condemns such behavior. “There are price-gouging laws in California, they’re being ignored right now, and this is not the time to take advantage of the situation,” Oppenheim said during the interview.
Original Selling Sunset star, who rose to fame after first appearing on the series premiere in March 2019, added that the wildfires in LA have completely devastated the local population since they broke out after a severe storm on Tuesday, January 7. “The whole day everyone has tears in their eyes for a long time, literally from the smoke, but also just because it’s emotional to see people fighting like this,” Oppenheim told the newspaper.
Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Jason Oppenheim and his eponymous real estate brokerage are donating their services to help people displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires. “If you lost your home in the Los Angeles fires and need to find a place to rent until your home is rebuilt, all Oppenheim Group agents will represent you for (…)
Oppenheim’s remarks come after California authorities warned business owners against illegally raising prices on items more than 10% above pre-fire costs.
The comments also come after Oppenheim announced on Thursday, January 9 that his company donating services displaced residents due to fire. “If you lost your home in the Los Angeles fires and need to find a place to rent until your home is rebuilt, all Oppenheim Group agents will represent you for free or reimburse you for the commission we receive in the transaction,” Oppenheim wrote that day in a post on Instagram. “Please contact us at office@ogroup.com.”
The star expanded the initiative with a video. “I woke up this morning to many friends and clients contacting me because they lost their homes in the last few days and now need help with a place to live,” Oppenheim said. “Their families have been displaced and as real estate agents, we obviously have an obligation to help them find a place — even when it’s going to be difficult with thousands of people (looking for) places and (not) nearly as many houses available.”
Selling Sunset star Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet was apparently not happy with the service she received on a recent commercial flight. “Seriously, (American Airlines) oversold the deal and I have to go economy even though (I) paid for the deal,” Fitzgerald Bonnet, 44, said via Instagram Story on Saturday, Jan. 11, sharing snaps of her seat. “Never again!!!” (…)
Several Jason employees echoed Oppenheim’s sentiments in the video’s comments section, including Alexandra Jarvis, Davina Potratz, Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet, Polly Brindle and Chrisshell Stause.
“We’re ready to help down in OC! ❤️,” I am selling OC‘s Brindle, 38, replied, while Fitzgerald Bonnet, 44, sent more heart emojis.
At the time of publication, Associated Press reported that 24 people have died as a result of the LA wildfires, which broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and the surrounding Los Angeles area last week. The media reported that at least 16 people were missing, and authorities warned that “the number is expected to rise.”
Check it out LAFD website for local reports on forest fires and click here for resources on how to help those affected.