Edinburgh police are running training courses to help landlords spot the signs that a cannabis farm is being run in their property. The Weed Them Out day-long conference advised landlords and lettings agents on the tell-tale signs that their accommodation was being used to cultivate the drug. A second conference takes place next Friday.
Police raid three cannabis farms a day; most are in a residential property, and the majority of those are buy-to-let. The consequences for landlords can be devastating: cannabis farmers frequently rip out walls to install heating ducts, leave wiring in a dangerous state as they bypass electricity meters, and booby-trap windows and doors.
Insurers may refuse to pay out to clean up the aftermath, citing a raft of reasons from lack of proper care on the part of the landlord, to the property being used for commercial purposes in breach of insurance terms and conditions. Landlords have been left with bills running into the tens of thousands to get their properties rentable again.
So how do you tell if your property is being targetted by drugs' producers?
- Be wary of apparently respectable tenants who are prepared to pay six or twelve months rent up-front in cash.
- Always check references: if they're non-existent or forged, walk away. Don't let the promise of all that cash distract you!
- Be aware if you have a property that's going to be popular with drugs farmers: cul-de-sacs and other places with little passing traffic may be extra vulnerable.
- Be wary of the tenant with a plausible excuse for why they don't want you to visit, ever. Tenants should be given 24 hours notice of any inspection. The person who wants you to come back at the end of the week might just need time to tidy up, but if your tenants will never let you arrange an inspection visit, that should ring alarm bells.
- There's nothing wrong with a little drive-by check every so often. Are the curtains always drawn or the windows blacked out? Or are lights blazing at odd times of day? Cannabis production uses very bright lights, so either of these can be a danger sign.
- If your 'tenants' are never at home, or only visiting at odd times of night, that too can be a danger sign.
- Watch for bags of soil going into the property, and black sacks of 'harvest' coming out.
Finally, if you do suspect that your property is being used for cannabis farming (or any other illegal purpose), don't approach your tenants: go straight to the police.
Edit: If anyone's in any doubt about the mess that cannabis farming leaves, the Property Investment Project has some pretty staggering pictures here.
