How LA’s Illegal Short-Term Rentals Hide in Plain Sight on Booking Sites

Los Angeles officials are struggling to crack down on illegal rentals during a housing crisis. Here’s how to make sure you’re a responsible vacationer.

About the Local Reporting Network

ProPublica is supporting local and regional newsrooms as they work on important investigative projects affecting their communities. Topics we have covered include environmental pollution, predatory lending, criminal justice, youth and schools, and housing. Our partner, the Anchorage Daily News, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for public service for our collaboration. And two other partners, the Palm Beach Post and WPLN-Nashville Public Radio, have been recognized as Pulitzer finalists. In 2024, we launched the 50 State Initiative, a commitment to support accountability reporting projects in every state by the end of 2029.

Decrepit Pipes Put Jackson, Mississippi, on the Edge of Catastrophe. State Regulators Didn’t Act.

For years, Jackson residents endured periods of low water pressure, potentially unsafe drinking water or no water at all. All the while, state inspectors found few problems with the failing pipes that caused those problems.

Maui Residents Have Been Forced From Their Homes to Make Room for Wildfire Survivors. Property Owners Are Profiting.

High prices offered by emergency housing programs have encouraged property owners to chase the money. Housing advocates say state officials haven’t moved aggressively enough to crack down on predatory behavior.

Washington State Solar Project Paused Amid Concern About Native Cultural Sites

The decision comes after an investigation by High Country News and ProPublica found that a land survey funded by the developer omitted more than a dozen sites of archaeological or cultural significance.

Partner Newsrooms

These newsrooms and reporters are working with ProPublica on an accountability journalism project.

  • Anchorage Daily News

    Anchorage Daily News

    Reporter: Kyle Hopkins

  • Bangor Daily News

    Bangor Daily News

    Reporter: Sawyer Loftus

  • Capitol News Illinois

    Capitol News Illinois

    Reporter: Molly Parker

  • The Connecticut Mirror

    The Connecticut Mirror

    Reporter: Dave Altimari

  • Honolulu Civil Beat

    Honolulu Civil Beat

    Reporter: Nick Grube

  • KYUK

    KYUK

    Reporter: Emily Schwing

  • Michigan Public

    Michigan Public

    Reporter: Beenish Ahmed

  • New York Focus

    New York Focus

    Reporter: Spencer Norris

  • North Dakota Monitor

    North Dakota Monitor

    Reporter: Jacob Orledge

  • Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Reporter: Tony Schick

  • The Seattle Times

    The Seattle Times

    Reporter: Lulu Ramadan

  • Verite News

    Verite News

    Reporter: Richard A. Webster

  • Wisconsin Watch

    Wisconsin Watch

    Reporter: Phoebe Petrovic

  • WPLN/Nashville Public Radio

    WPLN/Nashville Public Radio

    Reporter: Paige Pfleger

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