Pubdate: Thu, 12 May 2005
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  http://www.richmondreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Matthew Hoekstra
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-OP BYLAW PUTS ONUS ON LANDLORDS

Grow-Op Bylaw Expected to Be Approved by July 1

Owners Will Be Required to Inspect Rental Properties Every Three
Months

Landlords will be required to inspect their rental properties once
every three months as part of a new bylaw targeting marijuana grow
operations and drug labs.

City staff unveiled the bylaw at Monday night's council meeting. It
allows the city to collect costs associated with busting a drug house
from property owners.

That includes all direct and indirect costs incurred by the RCMP,
Richmond Fire-Rescue, city hall and cleanup costs-which could run into
the thousands of dollars.

"It's meant as a deterrent to dissuade people from allowing their
rental properties to be used as a grow operation," said Don Pearson,
community bylaws manager.

"A number of municipalities have similar bylaws so we're just bringing
ourselves up to the same standard that they have."

Landlords will be required to give written notice to tenants as called
for in the Residential Tenancy Act before inspecting a rental property.

The landlord will only be on the hook for costs associated with
busting a drug house if regular inspections are not done.

If a drug house is busted, the landlord must have the residence
restored to meet the building code.

It must also be professionally cleaned and inspected by the city
before it is re-occupied.

Last year in Richmond, RCMP executed 64 warrants on grow op houses and
had 187 active investigations. Mounties seized 20,000 marijuana plants
in 2004.

Coun. Bill McNulty, who said a grow op was once two doors down from
him, said the bylaw is long overdue.

"I think we've had too many incidents where we've had problems.
Hopefully it's a deterrent when we have more eyes and ears out there..."

Coun. Derek Dang, a landlord himself, said the city is facing a
proliferation of grow ops organized by criminal organizations.

"We have to help the RCMP and give them a little bit more of a
backing," he said.

"The tenants do have a right to their privacy, and you're kind of
reluctant to bother your tenants, but at least the tenants you have a
question mark about, you can go in there without looking like the bad
guy because the city is telling you to do so."

Richmond council expects to approve the bylaw before July 1. 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)