Dear editor

When your rent goes up by $25 a month, don't blame your landlord, blame North Cowichan council. It has passed a nuisance control bylaw that requires your landlord or his representative to inspect every rental property, every two months. The cost of this inspection -- provided it is not after hours or difficult to arrange -- is $50. Landlords must comply with this bylaw, even when there is no suggestion the tenant is involved in any grow op or meth lab! The mayor is reported as saying that this bylaw is unenforceable because of the municipality's lack of enforcement officers. That may be so, but landlords are required to obey all laws or risk nullifying their insurance.

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