Tenant advocacy groups, landlord associations and elected officials are condemning rent gouging after tens of thousands of people were displaced in deadly fires this month.

Price-gouging rules in place because of the L.A. County fires apply even in cases of bidding wars for rental property, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said.

California officials are sounding the alarm as rent prices skyrocket in fire-affected areas of Los Angeles. With the declaration of a state of emergency due to recent wildfires, the law prohibits landlords from price gouging,