Let property – cannabis cultivation, a growing crime

In early 2006, it was found that illicit cannabis cultivations had become a significant problem. A number of large-scale cultivations were identified within both residential and commercial premises. Since the beginning of 2008, police have seen a continual increase in cannabis cultivations.

It is common for the grower to rent residential and commercial properties for fixed/long- term periods. These properties are often “gutted” internally in order to maximise space available to house the plants and electrical equipment. Large quantities of electrical equipment consisting of fans, heaters, high voltage lamps, and electrical wires will be delivered/taken to the property.

Any type of property can be used from single flats to commercial warehouses. In the current financial climate the fear is that more people, unable to sell their property, will be more than willing to take cash rentals and, therefore, avoid the tenant referencing checks.

Those involved in the set-up of cultivations have no regard for the safety of others, as quite often the electricity required to power the lights and heaters used to stimulate the growth of the plants is by-passed, mains boxes are tampered with, and exposed live wires and cables evident throughout the premises. The temperature within the rooms where the plants grow can often exceed 40 degrees centigrade, with rooms often containing highly flammable chemicals and fertilisers used in growing the plants.

Apart from the premises being gutted and landlords/insurers picking up the cost there have also been many instances of fires starting in the floors and not damaging the cultivation, but destroying the flat below. There are, of course, instances of the cultivation itself being destroyed by fire.

NEED FOR AWARENESS  - Tell tale signs

• The windows of the property are permanently covered from the inside.
• Visitors at unusual times of the day or night.
• People often do not live on the premises and only visit to maintain them.
• The cannabis or by-products such as used fertiliser will be removed in black bin bags or laundry bags.
• There may be a vent protruding through the roof or rear window.
• There may be a pungent smell coming from the premises although having previously publicised this many premises now use mothballs particularly at letter boxes to stop the smells escaping.
• There may be noise coming from the equipment on the premises. (e.g. cooling fans)

Landlords, property owners and the like can help by carrying out physical inspections of their properties every couple of months and ensuring that all tenancy agreements have an access clause.

By taking sensible precautions it may not be possible to stop all cultivation, but they can greatly reduce the problem and its cost to communities, property owners and insurers.