Pubdate: Thu, 11 May 2006
Source: Outlook, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Outlook
Contact:  http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1433
Author: Justin Beddall
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SEED MONEY

West Van homeowners now on the hook if their renters go into the 
marijuana grow-op business.

It used to be that after cops busted a rental property grow-op the 
owner might slap on a new coat of paint, re-carpet and put the house 
on the market - or find some unsuspecting new tenants.

Those days have gone up in smoke.

West Vancouver has adopted a Controlled Substance and Nuisance Bylaw, 
which requires owners to pay for the cost of dismantling the grow-op 
as well as the cost of bringing the residence up to a certain health 
and safety levels before it can be inhabited again.

"Basically, we are ensuring that the property owners are being held 
responsible for the grow-ops that are being created and run, in 
particular, in the residential community in West Vancouver," said 
bylaw services manger Liz Holitzki.

To date, West Van has used the bylaw three times, including the 
recent grow-op explosion on Andover Crescent in May and two weeks ago 
on Hillside Road after police raided a rental home and discovered a 
400-plant operation.

"What was happening before was rental property owners were renting 
out their properties and not paying any attention to who they were 
renting to," Holitzki added.

Many new tenants or homeowners would be unaware of the lurking 
dangers: mold inside the walls, chemicals in the fixtures and 
bypassed electricity, to name just a few of the more common concerns. 
"None of that would have been addressed when the homeowner cleaned it 
up and re-sold it or reoccupied for renting. Nothing would have been 
protecting the new tenants or owners going in."

Now before a home can be reoccupied or re-sold, a third party, 
federally-certified hygienist must conduct air quality and other 
hygiene tests at the residence. The municipality later reviews the readings.

West Van's new bylaw probably influenced the recent decision of the 
Andover home owners to raze their million-dollar home.

It is estimated that structural repairs to the home would have cost 
$200,000 - in addition to between $50 and $60,000 to repair damage 
from the grow-op.

"[Before the bylaw] they would just cosmetically fix it and move on."

So far, homeowners have complied with the new bylaw, Holitzki added.

Noted West Vancouver Fire Services Acting Assistant Chief Martin 
Ernst: "Any house that has been a grow house has to be gone through 
extensively to make sure that it is sound for the next people that 
will either buy it or move into it as tenants. We're really pleased 
with how this new bylaw has worked."

WVPD Sgt. Paul Skelton said rental property owners must be vigilant 
with their tenants.

"They must check in on their rental properties on a regular basis to 
ensure that no criminal activity is taking place."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman