According to recent reports, 94% of cannabis farms (also known as factories or grows) are located in domestic premises. And since 2003, increasing numbers of rental properties have been targeted by gangs of cannabis cultivators looking to house their criminal activities.

The gangs are more likely to use a house than a flat, as they need space to cultivate their plants.

They also tend to choose secluded properties in areas where there is little through-traffic, such as cul-de-sacs.

Many landlords feel they are walking a ‘tight rope’ as the law prevent them from interrupting the tenant’s ‘quiet enjoyment’ of the property but by not acting the consequences for them, both financial and in legal terms, can be catastrophic.

In addition to the financial cost, landlords could also face prosecution themselves and risk insurance companies refusing to pay out on their claims.

Landlords are advised to report their suspicions to their local police station and if in doubt on their legal position to seek professional advice as soon as possible.

Damage and impact on landlords

Landlords who have been the victims of this type of criminal activity have reported the following types of damage to their properties:

·         Ceilings and walls knocked through and floorboards ripped out

·         Severe water damage

·         Fire and explosion

·         Furniture destroyed or thrown away

·         Wiring ripped out

·         Electricity meters bypassed

STAY IN CONTROL

How to avoid falling victim

Steps you can take to weed out tenants who may be involved in this kind of activity:

DO

·         Carry out in-depth tenant checks:

·         Insist on photographic identification (check it hasn’t been altered)

·         Take references from previous landlords and employers

·         Check tenants’ current addresses

·         Look out for utility bills in different names

·         Be wary of tenants who take particular interest in the electricity supply

·         Be wary of tenants who want to move in very quickly

·         Carry out regular inspections of the property

·         Communicate with the neighbours regularly

·         Take & check mobile numbers for all tenants

DON’T

·         Accept cash in advance for rent, deposit or administration fees

·         Offer short-term lets unless you have checked out the situation thoroughly

·         Accept requests to never ever visit the property

·         Allow the property to become ‘invisible’: keep the greenery trimmed back and make sure the house number is clearly visible from the road

STAY IN CONTROL

Tell-tale signs

Here are some key warning signs that your property may be being used as a cannabis farm:

·         An unusual amount of activity when the tenants first move in

·         Paranoid behaviour by your tenants

·         A large number of visitors (day and night)

·         Excessive fortification of the property (inside and outside)

·         Silver ducting tape hanging out of windows

·         Blacked out windows

·         Low-level hanging equipment

·         Humidity: condensation on windows, peeling wallpaper, mildewed walls

·         A pungent smell

·         Excessive use of deodorisers and air freshener

·         Sudden fluctuations in electricity bills

·         Electrical wiring tampered with

·         Powerful lights on day and night

·         Noise

·         The following items around the property (inside and outside):

o   Plants, lights and reflective materials

o   Bulbs, soil, fertiliser

o   Flasks, beakers, rubber tubing

o   Bubble bags

o   Scales

o   Self-seal bags

o   Gas cylinders

o   Bin bags filled with vegetation

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