Watch For These Warning Signs of a Grow Operation in Your Building or Property
 (Reprinted with permission from ROMA BC, Top Storey and Al Kemp)

Do routine inspections of your property and watch out for these warnings signs of possible trouble.

• The tenant (s) insist on paying you and everyone else in cash.
• There is heavy condensation on windows
• An absence of frost or snow on the roof during cold weather, compared with other homes in the area
• The wiring appears to have been tampered with
• There is a coming and going of visitors all day and night
• Strange odours and humming noise coming from the residence
• Alterations such as vents or new window coverings which seal off all outside light
• The tenants do not seem to work, but still drive expensive vehicles and have fancy clothes
• The tenants refuse to let you do a routine inspection of your property

These are some of the things to look for if you suspect a grow operation is in place, but your best defense is a good offence - FIND THE RIGHT TENANT FIRST. An hour spent on the phone checking prospective tenants out first, doing a credit and reference check will be a lot cheaper than having to do major renovations once a marijuana growing operation has destroyed your property.

Have a prospective tenant submit to a credit check

Thoroughly check out references and contact numbers

Confirm employer telephone names/numbers with directory assistance

Question cash payments

Make observations of your property regularly

Advise potential tenants of your right, under the Act, to inspect your property and your intention of doing so, prior to renting

Call the police if you become suspicious

Confront a drug suspect by yourself

Let an offence continue, hoping that the tenant will eventually move out.

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