Sonoma County Settles Rent-Gouging Case Against Apartment Owners

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office and a Santa Rosa apartment complex have reached an agreement that settles a rent-gouging case stemming from the 2017 wildfires. FG Meadows LLC, the owner and operator of the Meadows at Fountaingrove Apartments, raised rents in excess of 10 percent following a declared wildfire emergency, in violation of the state's price gouging law.

Twenty tenants were illegally charged a total of $13,000 between January and October 2018, Deputy District Attorney Caroline Fowler said. The tenants have received restitution in amounts that depend on the type of their rental unit, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said.

The stipulated judgment approved by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Elliot Daum also requires FG Meadows LLC to pay $40,000 in civil penalties and $5,000 in investigative costs to the District Attorney's Office.

"This case is part of the ongoing efforts of my office to ensure that victims of the fire and residents are not further victimized by landlords taking advantage of the challenging rental market in Sonoma County after the loss of over 5,000 homes in our community from the devastating fires," Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

Sonoma County's emergency declaration remains in effect at least through July 21 and additional restrictions may apply under Santa Rosa's declaration. Local agencies are required to review the need for a local emergency once every 60 days.

The emergency declaration issued by then-Gov. Jerry Brown remains in effect until May 31.

— Bay City News Service