It seems that your prospective tenant is just what you're looking for. He wants to pay his rent in cash, doesn't care about the amenities in the home, and even offers to deliver the rent to you each month so you needn't bother coming by the house. This appears to be perfect, right? Wrong. You should recognize things like those to be giant warning signs.
Marijuana grow ops in rental properties are a huge problem in many areas across Canada. Homes can be damaged irreparably when a grow op is operated inside a rental unit. The conclusion that these people come to is usually to do this on someone else's property to avoid personal risk.
Many growers keep dangerous weapons in the home in order to protect themselves from other criminals. They could be tampering with the hydro meter and the wiring, and if this is so, the risk of a fire in the home increases dramatically. Mould is a typical result from the excess humidity in the home because of the water required in growing marijuana.
In most cases, damage that tenants have caused is not protected by your insurance policy. So you could be stuck with a gutted, mouldy, unsafe home, or one that has been completely devastated by fire.
What can a landlord do to protect themselves from tenants that are looking to use the property for an illegal grow operation?
Screening your tenants is very important, so do this carefully. Of course the rental agreement must be filled out, but you must be diligent in checking their references so you don't end up devastated financially, so call their former landlords and employers.
You should check their identification to verify who they are. And record the information. Tell the prospective tenants that exterior inspections will be done each month. And you reserve the right to do interior inspections with the proper notice. When tenants know that each month you will be showing up to collect the rent cheque, the unscrupulous tenants will probably look elsewhere to rent.
Advise them that you know your neighbours. Make the tenants aware that you talk to the neighbors often. Undesirable tenants won't want that kind of pressure from neighbors looking in, so they may look elsewhere for their grow op. Arrange to be there on the move-in date. If you do this, you will be able to ascertain if they are truly moving in, and can go over the rental agreement once again with them.
Noticing when things look suspicious
You should be wary if:
The tenants want to pay rents in cash. And if they offer you more rent than you're asking for, consider it a warning sign that something may be fishy. A tenant spends more time checking out the electrical panel than looking at the home's other amenities. If this is the case, they could be planning how they're going to alter the wiring to handle several 1000 watt bulbs. Be suspicious.
The tenant has no job, but has a pricey vehicle. Once your tenants have moved in, regular exterior inspections may reveal a grow op, hopefully before too much damage is done to your rental property.
Signs to look for include:
Black plastic, heavy curtains, bed sheets, anything covering windows completely, especially when they are pressed tight against the glass. Extra condensation on windows.
A strong chemical smell from the home, or perhaps a skunk-like odour.
Sounds of ventilation equipment humming all day and night.
An unusually high number of visitors, and if they always come and go late, it's more suspicious.
Strange looking equipment or garbage outside the home, or things like potting soil, wiring, and bedding plant pots scattered around.
Hydro meters that have been tampered with.
Aggressive looking guard dogs on the residence.
Marijuana grow ops can completely destroy your rental property leaving you with a massive repair bill, and often no insurance coverage. Do everything you can in order to protect your rental property from major damages.
Marijuana grow ops in rental properties are a huge problem in many areas across Canada. Homes can be damaged irreparably when a grow op is operated inside a rental unit. The conclusion that these people come to is usually to do this on someone else's property to avoid personal risk.
Many growers keep dangerous weapons in the home in order to protect themselves from other criminals. They could be tampering with the hydro meter and the wiring, and if this is so, the risk of a fire in the home increases dramatically. Mould is a typical result from the excess humidity in the home because of the water required in growing marijuana.
In most cases, damage that tenants have caused is not protected by your insurance policy. So you could be stuck with a gutted, mouldy, unsafe home, or one that has been completely devastated by fire.
What can a landlord do to protect themselves from tenants that are looking to use the property for an illegal grow operation?
Screening your tenants is very important, so do this carefully. Of course the rental agreement must be filled out, but you must be diligent in checking their references so you don't end up devastated financially, so call their former landlords and employers.
You should check their identification to verify who they are. And record the information. Tell the prospective tenants that exterior inspections will be done each month. And you reserve the right to do interior inspections with the proper notice. When tenants know that each month you will be showing up to collect the rent cheque, the unscrupulous tenants will probably look elsewhere to rent.
Advise them that you know your neighbours. Make the tenants aware that you talk to the neighbors often. Undesirable tenants won't want that kind of pressure from neighbors looking in, so they may look elsewhere for their grow op. Arrange to be there on the move-in date. If you do this, you will be able to ascertain if they are truly moving in, and can go over the rental agreement once again with them.
Noticing when things look suspicious
You should be wary if:
The tenants want to pay rents in cash. And if they offer you more rent than you're asking for, consider it a warning sign that something may be fishy. A tenant spends more time checking out the electrical panel than looking at the home's other amenities. If this is the case, they could be planning how they're going to alter the wiring to handle several 1000 watt bulbs. Be suspicious.
The tenant has no job, but has a pricey vehicle. Once your tenants have moved in, regular exterior inspections may reveal a grow op, hopefully before too much damage is done to your rental property.
Signs to look for include:
Black plastic, heavy curtains, bed sheets, anything covering windows completely, especially when they are pressed tight against the glass. Extra condensation on windows.
A strong chemical smell from the home, or perhaps a skunk-like odour.
Sounds of ventilation equipment humming all day and night.
An unusually high number of visitors, and if they always come and go late, it's more suspicious.
Strange looking equipment or garbage outside the home, or things like potting soil, wiring, and bedding plant pots scattered around.
Hydro meters that have been tampered with.
Aggressive looking guard dogs on the residence.
Marijuana grow ops can completely destroy your rental property leaving you with a massive repair bill, and often no insurance coverage. Do everything you can in order to protect your rental property from major damages.
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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