The tenant you're considering looks like they are going to work out great. 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. Everything you ever wanted, 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. The risk of fire is greatly increased when wiring is tampered with, and hydro meters are bypassed. 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.
Since this is such a dangerous problem for a landlord, what steps can they take to reduce the chance that this could happen at their property?
Tenants must always be screened thoroughly. 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.
Make sure they show you proper identification. Record the information on the ID card. Let them know that you'll be doing monthly exterior inspections. 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. Tell them that you talk to neighbours frequently. Undesirable tenants won't want that kind of pressure from neighbors looking in, so they may look elsewhere for their grow op. Be at the home on the date when the tenants are moving in. 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.
Recognizing red flags
You should be wary if:
Cash is how the tenants prefer to pay rent. 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. When a tenant acts this way, they might be thinking about changing the wiring in order to put in 1000 watt bulbs. Being suspicious can be helpful in this situation.
The tenant drives an expensive car, but doesn't have current employment. After a tenant has moved in, you could find a grow op by doing outside inspections on a regular basis, and if you notice it early, you can avoid any further damage to your rental unit.
Signs to look for include:
Windows covered with black plastic, bed sheets, or heavy curtains that are drawn tightly shut, and are pressed up against the windows. More than the usual amount of condensation on windows.
A strong chemical smell from the home, or perhaps a skunk-like odour.
The sound of equipment humming all the time, like fans or ventilation.
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.
If the hydro meter looks like it has been altered.
Signs indicating there is a guard dog on duty.
You could end up having to spend an incredible amount of money to restore the home, and insurance may not cover you, so beware of the signs of this dangerous activity. Take the necessary steps to minimize the risks of occurrences like these.
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. The risk of fire is greatly increased when wiring is tampered with, and hydro meters are bypassed. 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.
Since this is such a dangerous problem for a landlord, what steps can they take to reduce the chance that this could happen at their property?
Tenants must always be screened thoroughly. 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.
Make sure they show you proper identification. Record the information on the ID card. Let them know that you'll be doing monthly exterior inspections. 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. Tell them that you talk to neighbours frequently. Undesirable tenants won't want that kind of pressure from neighbors looking in, so they may look elsewhere for their grow op. Be at the home on the date when the tenants are moving in. 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.
Recognizing red flags
You should be wary if:
Cash is how the tenants prefer to pay rent. 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. When a tenant acts this way, they might be thinking about changing the wiring in order to put in 1000 watt bulbs. Being suspicious can be helpful in this situation.
The tenant drives an expensive car, but doesn't have current employment. After a tenant has moved in, you could find a grow op by doing outside inspections on a regular basis, and if you notice it early, you can avoid any further damage to your rental unit.
Signs to look for include:
Windows covered with black plastic, bed sheets, or heavy curtains that are drawn tightly shut, and are pressed up against the windows. More than the usual amount of condensation on windows.
A strong chemical smell from the home, or perhaps a skunk-like odour.
The sound of equipment humming all the time, like fans or ventilation.
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.
If the hydro meter looks like it has been altered.
Signs indicating there is a guard dog on duty.
You could end up having to spend an incredible amount of money to restore the home, and insurance may not cover you, so beware of the signs of this dangerous activity. Take the necessary steps to minimize the risks of occurrences like these.
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