West Midlands police warn landlords to keep tenants who deal drugs out
Police forces in the West Midlands have reportedly spent more than £500,000 on cases involving cannabis factories and other forms of drug dealing in residential properties. While authorities frequently refer to locations used for these purposes as cannabis “factories,” it is important to note that this is a misnomer. Police in both Solihull and Birmingham have uncovered several cannabis grow-ops, and what may be surprising is that the majority of these were housedin private residential properties, rather than in industrial or commercial buildings. A total of 350 cannabis plants were confiscated by the authorities during these raids, and some of them were uncovered in buy-to-let properties.
Police are asking residential landlords to be especially vigilant as a staggering 94 percent of all cannabis grow operations are housed in residential units, rather than industrial areas. As such, landlords have a crucial role to play in keeping their rental units free of controlled substances. An additional problem related to the use of residential properties as cannabis factories is that illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers are often the ones commissioned to help grow these drugs.
West Midlands police warn that not only may landlords be legally liable if they allow their properties to be turned into cannabis grow operations, but their water and electricity bills will skyrocket as well, thus causing them significant financial problems. There may also be noticeable damage to the rental property, such as demolished walls and modification of the unit’s electrical wiring.