• Jason Oppenheim said filming for "Selling Sunset" season nine is on hold because of the LA fires.
• He said the Oppenheim Group has instead focused on efforts to help those who have lost their homes.
• He told BI it's unclear if and how the fires will be addressed in the coming season.

Jason Oppenheim, the star of "Selling Sunset," said filming for season nine of the Netflix show has been paused as fires continue to devastate parts of Los Angeles.

In a conversation with BI, Oppenheim confirmed that filming had commenced and then abruptly halted because of the ongoing natural disasters.

Netflix has not officially announced that the show has been renewed for a ninth season, but several cast members, including Mary Bonnet, Chelsea Lazkani, and Amanza Smith, have suggested on social media that production was underway. The streaming platform declined to comment.

The fires, which have been raging for nearly a week, have burned more than 40,000 acres in Los Angeles County, displacing more than 100,000 residents and killing at least 24 people.

"I don't know if or how we'll address it on camera," said Oppenheim, who runs the real-estate brokerage the Oppenheim Group with his twin brother.

"We've paused filming so we can focus on our efforts right now," he added.

Oppenheim said the efforts include a donation drive at his office, financial contributions to the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, and a pledge to represent fire victims who have lost their homes for free.

In an Instagram post over the weekend, Oppenheim announced that the Oppenheim Group would refund any commissions it received from transactions involving fire victims.

The fires have destroyed more than 12,300 structures, local authorities have said.

Many celebrities, including some Oppenheim Group agents, have lost their homes in the fires, though Oppenheim did not specify whether any cast members were affected.

Oppenheim said representing people who've lost their homes has taken up considerable time and contributed to the pause in filming.

"We've had dozens and dozens of people reaching out to us that are needing houses for themselves and their family," he told BI. "Many of them are wanting to be in the same or near the same communities where they lost their homes."

This surge in demand for rental properties in areas like Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades has led to price gouging, which Oppenheim is trying to draw attention to.

"Landlords that think they're going to get away with this will end up in a lawsuit where they'll be receiving a letter from an attorney in six months or three months, or whatever it is, and those tenants will be calling back that money," he said.

"So just this is a time for people to put aside any opportunities for financial gain," Oppenheim added. "If anything, we should be giving back financially, not trying to be rewarded financially from the situation."

• Jason Oppenheim has accused Los Angeles landlords of illegal rent hikes amid the wildfires.
• California law prohibits rent increases of over 10% after an emergency is declared.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended the price-gouging ban until January 2026.

Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's "Selling Sunset," has accused Los Angeles landlords of illegally price gouging rental rates amid the city's devastating fires.

In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Oppenheim, who co-runs the Oppenheim Group with his twin brother, called for the exploitative practice to be exposed.

"We're having landlords taking advantage of the situation," he said.

The LA fires, which began nearly a week ago, have killed at least 24 people, left dozens missing, and destroyed thousands of structures, including homes. The total area burned is now larger than Paris.

Oppenheim shared the example of a client who went to view a rental property that was initially asking for $13,000 a month. He said his client offered $20,000 a month and six months of rent paid upfront, but the landlord responded by asking for $23,000 a month.

"There are price-gouging laws in California that are just being ignored right now," he said. "This isn't the time to be taking advantage of situations, and it's also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster."

Landlords are "absolutely" breaking the law, Oppenheim added.

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency on January 7, it automatically triggered a California law restricting price gouging for housing, emergency supplies, and other necessities for up to 180 days.

California's price gouging laws make it unlawful to increase the rental price advertised, offered, or charged for housing by more than 10% after an emergency has been declared.

Newsom also signed an executive order on Sunday prohibiting price gouging "in times of emergency" that would remain in effect until January 7, 2026.

A violation of the price-gouging rules is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to a year, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he had seen businesses and landlords "jack up the price."

He said, "It's called price gouging. It is illegal. You cannot do it."

Bonta said that anyone engaging in price gouging would be held accountable.

Displaced residents in LA are scrambling to find rental housing near their schools and workplaces, driving up demand and, in some cases, hiking prices way beyond what is legal. Local publication the LAist spotted a Zillow listing for a home in Bel Air that had its price hiked by 86%.

And with the fires still raging, the situation could get worse.

Although firefighters have made progress in containing the blazes, authorities have warned that dry winds picking up could complicate efforts to control the situation.

Pacific Palisades, home to some of the country's most expensive real estate, has been among the worst-hit areas, and celebrities including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Milo Ventimiglia, have lost their homes.