RESIDENTIALlettings
circumvented, leaving the landlord to pay a hefty bill for the stolen electricity. Cannabis production also turns a property into a major fire risk. “It is so important that landlords and
agents carry out reference checks before signing new tenancy agreements. The purpose of referencing a tenant is threefold - to check the person is who they say they are; that they can afford the rent; and that they have honoured past commitments. The more information collected on the tenancy application the better, because should the tenant subsequently abscond or leave owing money, this can be used to give vital tracing information. “Landlords and agents can pick up a
great deal of information about the applicant when showing them the property. What kind of car does the prospective tenant drive? Also take the time to compare addresses shown on the application with those shown on the ID documents. Ask for previous utility and telephone (including mobile phone) bills and statements, and check if the name and address and other information matches up with the information on the application form.”
BEHAVIOUR SPOT THE SUSPICIOUS Other potential indicators include:
There are many ways to spot whether a property is being used as a cannabis factory – unusual activity of people coming and going delivering fertiliser and equipment, the lights will be left on continually and curtains drawn, strong and pungent smells coming from the property.
Visits to the property at unusual times of the day or night
Windows of a property are
permanently covered from the inside People often don’t live in the properties and only visit to maintain them. These ‘absentee farmers’ may visit daily or
weekly, but they usually don’t stay long There may be a vent protruding through the roof or a rear window There may be a pungent smell coming from the property There may be noise from the equipment used in the house, such as cooling fans
Black bin bags or laundry bags for the removal of cannabis, or by products such as used fertiliser Compost bags or gardening equipment left outside, usually in the rear of the premises Potential tenants who are willing to pay large sums in cash to rent the property Tenants always being out when the landlord wants to visit, and having a reason for them not being able to come in
Signs that the electricity boxes have been tampered with, or excessively high fuel bills.
The ever growing number of illegal farms are producing thousands of bags of cannabis every year.
www.letrisks.com. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or via an online form at
www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Do you have any views to share?
www.propertydrum.com/articles/cannabisAug12
Cannabis farms found in Devon & Cornwall up by 989% in two years.’
PROPERTYdrum AUGUST 2012 55
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