Cannabis farm warning

Jun 11 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LANDLORDS are being warned to look out for cannabis growers wanting to turn their properties into drugs factories.

The National Landlords Association issued the warning as part of National Tackling Drugs Week.

It says the problem is on the rise and can leave property owners with a massive bill for damage.

The association says cannabis factories are used to fund more serious criminal activities and landlords have a duty to stop them spreading.

Its advice to landlords is to get full references for prospective tenants, refuse offers for six months’ rent up front, make regular appointments to check the property and ask neighbours to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour.

Chairman David Salusbury said: “Cannabis factories are a blight on local communities and make their neighbours’ lives a misery.

“We welcome any moves to track down where these factories are and shut them down.

“Of course, for landlords, it is once the police have cleared the property that the real challenge begins.’’