PassionForMaryJ
Active member
This article was put together by a friend of mine LuckyLeaf, if you are still around Lucky get in touch when ya can, and I hope you do not mind be bringing your info back, and posting it here, I felt it was very valuable!!
The info below is LuckyLeaf's, not my own
I am just bringing it back so it is not lost in case OG does not come back up...
Over the past 10 years, there has been a marked increase in the number of drug cultivation operations, usually involving cannabis - most notably marijuana - across Canada.
Grow operations have no specific size or location. They can set up virtually anywhere - from the bedroom of a middle class home to empty office space in a large commercial building. They could be located in a rural or urban setting, in a quiet residential neighborhood, or in an industrial park. However, the preferred location, according to law officials, is in residential, rental properties.
What are the Risks associated with grow operations?
Most people assume that the only party at risk is the actual grower, and that this risk is limited to that of being caught by the police. While that risk certainly does exist, there are many others inherent in a home grow operation. The potential damage caused by these risks is considerable, amounting to thousands of dollars.
Fire
A grow operation puts the building and its occupants at risk of fire. In order to provide the increased light and ventilation required for a grow operation, overloading conductors, bypassing fuses and unsafe wiring are the norm. Further, the high humidity leads to oxidation of electrical contacts and panel boards that can cause heat build up and arcing. In order to divert most of the electricity for lighting and ventilation, natural gas systems may also be altered or cylinders of propane brought into the building to supply makeshift heaters.
Structural Damage
In order to optimize the use of space and light, the interior wall finishes, supports, partitions, and flooring may be removed/destroyed. Growing racks may also be built, increasing the load weight of the floors and risking collapse. Repeated exposure to soil, chemical and water will rot the building components in a short period of time and make the structure vulnerable to pest and mould contamination.
Health
There are also significant health risks to occupants of the building and the surrounding neighborhood. Large quantities of pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers are used in the grow operation and these present hazards in enclosed environments. If a grow operation is being housed in a dwelling in which there is more than one tenant, not only is the actual grower being exposed to health hazards, but other tenants may be as well. In addition, empty chemical containers and contaminated waste water may also be discarded into the neighborhood environment.
Crime
When there is illegal activity in a neighborhood, the risk of exposure to collateral crime increases. There have been incidents where other crimes were committed as a result of the type of individuals attracted to the neighborhood.
Tips for Landlords / Property Managers
In some cases, landlords are aware of the illegal activity. However, in the majority of cases, landlords remain unaware until it is too late and the result of their inattention is thousands of dollars worth of damages to their property. If you suspect or discover a grow operation, DO NOT confront your tenant. Instead, contact the police or Crime Stoppers.
Get to know your neighbors
Advise them that the property is a rental. Ask them to keep an eye on it and alert you of anything suspicious or out of the blue - like visitors at unusual hours.
Screen your tenants
Check their references.
Advise them that you check your property regularly and that you have regular contact with the neighbors.
Take note of your tenants vehicles and license numbers.
Find out which tenant is signing for the hydro / phone.
Make it a requirement that they carry tenants insurance.
Be there when they move in.
Be wary of an individual who claims he is self-employed and has no office number.
Insist on rent checks - no cash payments.
Obtain an appropriate damage deposit.
Tenant Traits to be Suspicious of:
Individual makes no service / maintenance requests.
The individual only has a cell number.
Personal appearance is inconsistent with employment.
Luxury automobiles begin to appear on the premises.
During scheduled interior inspections, access to one or more rooms is not granted - someone is sleeping, etc.
Evasive responses.
Tell-tale Signs of Grow Operations
The Dwelling
Check your property at least once a month - an exterior walk around should suffice. Look for:
The home may not look 'lived in'.
The basement windows will be dark the majority of the time. They may be boarded up or otherwise darkened.
There is condensation on darkened windows.
New chimney / roof vents installed.
New attic vents / dryer vents installed.
Smoke / heat coming from chimney during non-heating season.
Obvious electrical meter by-pass constructed.
Smells and Odors:
There is a strong ammonia-like smell in the air, often at the same time each day / night. Also common is a sweet vegetative smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage. Also, the odor of moth balls, chlorine, manure, soap and / or air fresheners are common as such are frequently used in an attempt to mask the smell of the operation.
Noise
Humming or motorized fan-like noises.
Discarded equipment
Potting soil, nutrient containers, small plastic plant pots, and 1-gallon plastic pots
Wiring, root balls, PVC piping, scraps of heavy black plastic, 4" x 6" dryer hose, and cut pieces of garden hose.
Meters and Electricity
Electrical meter indicates significant consumption.
Localized Power Surges / Browning: Neighborhood residences experience unexplained power surges or power 'browning' (decrease of power that dims lights and slows down appliance use) with the return of normal power flow approximately 12 hours later.
Other Indicators
'Beware of Dog' signs - used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and detection by police.
Build up of junk mail / flyers.
No garbage is put out on garbage day.
By taking these precautions, you will reduce the chance of a marijuana grower renting your property. It is better to lose a month's rent now than rent in haste and put your investment at risk.
Screening of potential tenants and frequent inspections of the property drastically reduces the likelihood of a grow operation being set up on your premises.
It is very expensive to equip and run a commercial marijuana operation ($5,000 - 20,000) and it takes approximately 3 months to cultivate a crop. Marijuana growers will not take the chance on losing their investment if they suspect that the landlord will check the property regularly.
As a landlord, it is not necessary that you make sudden, unannounced inspections. Give the proper notice.
The info below is LuckyLeaf's, not my own
I am just bringing it back so it is not lost in case OG does not come back up...
"Good info on what people look for if there is suspicion of growing mostly apartments."
Just something I found in a search.
__________________________________________________Over the past 10 years, there has been a marked increase in the number of drug cultivation operations, usually involving cannabis - most notably marijuana - across Canada.
Grow operations have no specific size or location. They can set up virtually anywhere - from the bedroom of a middle class home to empty office space in a large commercial building. They could be located in a rural or urban setting, in a quiet residential neighborhood, or in an industrial park. However, the preferred location, according to law officials, is in residential, rental properties.
What are the Risks associated with grow operations?
Most people assume that the only party at risk is the actual grower, and that this risk is limited to that of being caught by the police. While that risk certainly does exist, there are many others inherent in a home grow operation. The potential damage caused by these risks is considerable, amounting to thousands of dollars.
Fire
A grow operation puts the building and its occupants at risk of fire. In order to provide the increased light and ventilation required for a grow operation, overloading conductors, bypassing fuses and unsafe wiring are the norm. Further, the high humidity leads to oxidation of electrical contacts and panel boards that can cause heat build up and arcing. In order to divert most of the electricity for lighting and ventilation, natural gas systems may also be altered or cylinders of propane brought into the building to supply makeshift heaters.
Structural Damage
In order to optimize the use of space and light, the interior wall finishes, supports, partitions, and flooring may be removed/destroyed. Growing racks may also be built, increasing the load weight of the floors and risking collapse. Repeated exposure to soil, chemical and water will rot the building components in a short period of time and make the structure vulnerable to pest and mould contamination.
Health
There are also significant health risks to occupants of the building and the surrounding neighborhood. Large quantities of pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers are used in the grow operation and these present hazards in enclosed environments. If a grow operation is being housed in a dwelling in which there is more than one tenant, not only is the actual grower being exposed to health hazards, but other tenants may be as well. In addition, empty chemical containers and contaminated waste water may also be discarded into the neighborhood environment.
Crime
When there is illegal activity in a neighborhood, the risk of exposure to collateral crime increases. There have been incidents where other crimes were committed as a result of the type of individuals attracted to the neighborhood.
Tips for Landlords / Property Managers
In some cases, landlords are aware of the illegal activity. However, in the majority of cases, landlords remain unaware until it is too late and the result of their inattention is thousands of dollars worth of damages to their property. If you suspect or discover a grow operation, DO NOT confront your tenant. Instead, contact the police or Crime Stoppers.
Get to know your neighbors
Advise them that the property is a rental. Ask them to keep an eye on it and alert you of anything suspicious or out of the blue - like visitors at unusual hours.
Screen your tenants
Check their references.
Advise them that you check your property regularly and that you have regular contact with the neighbors.
Take note of your tenants vehicles and license numbers.
Find out which tenant is signing for the hydro / phone.
Make it a requirement that they carry tenants insurance.
Be there when they move in.
Be wary of an individual who claims he is self-employed and has no office number.
Insist on rent checks - no cash payments.
Obtain an appropriate damage deposit.
Tenant Traits to be Suspicious of:
Individual makes no service / maintenance requests.
The individual only has a cell number.
Personal appearance is inconsistent with employment.
Luxury automobiles begin to appear on the premises.
During scheduled interior inspections, access to one or more rooms is not granted - someone is sleeping, etc.
Evasive responses.
Tell-tale Signs of Grow Operations
The Dwelling
Check your property at least once a month - an exterior walk around should suffice. Look for:
The home may not look 'lived in'.
The basement windows will be dark the majority of the time. They may be boarded up or otherwise darkened.
There is condensation on darkened windows.
New chimney / roof vents installed.
New attic vents / dryer vents installed.
Smoke / heat coming from chimney during non-heating season.
Obvious electrical meter by-pass constructed.
Smells and Odors:
There is a strong ammonia-like smell in the air, often at the same time each day / night. Also common is a sweet vegetative smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage. Also, the odor of moth balls, chlorine, manure, soap and / or air fresheners are common as such are frequently used in an attempt to mask the smell of the operation.
Noise
Humming or motorized fan-like noises.
Discarded equipment
Potting soil, nutrient containers, small plastic plant pots, and 1-gallon plastic pots
Wiring, root balls, PVC piping, scraps of heavy black plastic, 4" x 6" dryer hose, and cut pieces of garden hose.
Meters and Electricity
Electrical meter indicates significant consumption.
Localized Power Surges / Browning: Neighborhood residences experience unexplained power surges or power 'browning' (decrease of power that dims lights and slows down appliance use) with the return of normal power flow approximately 12 hours later.
Other Indicators
'Beware of Dog' signs - used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and detection by police.
Build up of junk mail / flyers.
No garbage is put out on garbage day.
By taking these precautions, you will reduce the chance of a marijuana grower renting your property. It is better to lose a month's rent now than rent in haste and put your investment at risk.
Screening of potential tenants and frequent inspections of the property drastically reduces the likelihood of a grow operation being set up on your premises.
It is very expensive to equip and run a commercial marijuana operation ($5,000 - 20,000) and it takes approximately 3 months to cultivate a crop. Marijuana growers will not take the chance on losing their investment if they suspect that the landlord will check the property regularly.
As a landlord, it is not necessary that you make sudden, unannounced inspections. Give the proper notice.
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