Rinlgley group logo
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    About Us Our People Awards Savings for Clients Results for Clients Green Management Strategies Market Overview Leasehold Reform Campaign Money Back Guarantee
  • What We Do
    • Block Management
      • Block Management Overview
      • for RTM Companies
      • for Freehold Management Companies
      • for Resident Management Companies
      • for Estates of Houses
      • for Freeholder Investors
      • Ground Rent Collection
      • How to Change Agent
      • Block Management Packages
      • Can't Afford an Agent?
      • Legal work & Tribunals
      • Section 20 Major Works
      • Ringley's Top 10 Tips
      • Staff on Site
      • Moving or Buying?
      • Report an Incident
    • Asset Management
      • Asset Management Overview
        • Asset Management Overview
        • Stabilised Assets
        • Project Monitoring
        • Mobilisation & Lease up
        • Asset Managers TechStack
        • Accounting & Reporting
        • Brands & URLs for sale
        • ESG Consultancy & Implementation
        • UK Build to Rent
        • UK Later Living
        • UK Coliving
        • UK Student Housing
        • BTR Smart PropTech
        • BTR Strategic Marketing
        • BTR Resident Experience
        • BTR Tenancy Management
        • Asset Management Clients
        • Site Finding/Digital Land Search
      • Law
        • Legal Services Overview
        • Our People
        • Recommendations
        • Right to Manage
        • Lease Extensions
        • Freehold Purchase
        • Absentee Freeholder
        • Court Appointed Manager
        • Conveyancing
        • Service Charge/Rent Arrears Recovery
        • Company Secretary
      • Valuation
        • Valuation Overview
        • Loan Security
        • Company Accounts
        • Lease Extensions
        • Freehold Purchase
        • Rent Reviews
        • Development Valuations
        • Insurance Valuations
        • Expert Witness & Litigation
        • Tax, Trusts & Accounts Valuations
        • Trading Business
        • Compulsory Purchase
        • Residential Valuations
      • Engineering
        • Engineering Overview
        • EWS1 Consultancy
        • Asbestos
        • Contract Administration
        • Fire Assesment
        • Homebuyer Survey
        • Building Survey
        • Schedules
        • Party Wall Matters
        • Principle Designer
        • Disability Access Audits
        • Small Building Works
      • Finance
        • Finance Overview
        • Get Accounts Quote
        • The Law & Property Accounts
        • Industry Update
        • To audit or Not?
      • Plant & Facilities Management
        • Plant & Facilities Management
        • Fire Door Inspection APP
      • Site Staffing Solutions
      • Leasehold Guidance
        • Leasehold Guidance Overview
        • Right to Manage
        • Buy Freehold
        • Court Appointed Manager
        • Absentee Freeholder
    • Insights
      Property Management Articles Property Management Blogs Rental Market Blogs Customer Comments FAQ - Ask Our Experts
    • E-books
    • Portal Login
    • Get In Touch
    • Clear Filter
    • Property Blog INDEX
    • PlanetRent Blog

    Know your onions - and your tomatoes!


    Responsive image


    Could you tell the difference between cannabis and tomatoes? One Scottish letting agent was caught out recently when she found a tenant growing what she thought was cannabis in the bedroom of a rented property in West Lothian. In fact, the letting agent was left red-faced when the plants turned out to be tomatoes! However, the agent was right to be vigilant and right to report her suspicions when she got back to the office. Cannabis farms are on the increase and growers often choose rented properties to grow their plants. The bad news for landlords is that the law holds you responsible if you allow your rented property to be used for the production, cultivation, possession or supply of cannabis. Weed is a Class B drug and the penalties under section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971 are severe. You could end up with a criminal record or a hefty fine. So what are the warning signs to look out for? Here are a few pointers:


    • If you know what cannabis smells like, this might give you a clue even when the plants are out of sight. It is one of the major tell-tale signs of being near a drug farm.

    • Equipment such as lighting racks and ventilation fans being taken into the property may be a sign of tenants being up to no good – the neighbours might also have spotted such activity.

    • Have the windows been blacked out or permanently covered? This may be a sign that lighting conditions are being controlled for the cultivation of a cannabis crop.

    • Is there evidence of strong lights being left on day and night?

    • Constantly misted windows and signs of condensation might indicate the higher than normal temperatures being maintained within the building.

    • Growers are likely to be using ventilation and extraction fans 24/7 – you would be likely to hear the sound of these as soon as you approach the property.

    • annabis farms require a lot of power and energy – unusual cabling running out of the property could be used to tap into illicit supplies of electricity from street lighting.

    If you or your property agent does become suspicious, call the police immediately. Don’t tackle any of the occupants yourself as they could respond violently. The moral of this story is that not only should landlords and property agents be vigilant and be aware of the tell-tale signs of illegal activity in rented properties – but they also need a rudimentary knowledge of horticulture!



    05/03/2019
    Author :

    Social
    Facebook Linkedin Twitter Blogger

    Subscription

    Keep up to date

    (Weekly, fortnightly or monthly)


    To find out more what we do with your data, please read our Privacy Policy


    Insights, Blogs, Research, E-Books

    Landlord blog bg

    Landlord blog
    Read landlord blog
    Property blog bg

    Property blogs
    Read property blogs
    Articles bg

    Property articles
    Read property articles
    E book

    E-books
    Read E-books
    Facebook footer Instagram footer Linkedin footer Twitter footer
    Facebook footer
    Instagram footer
    Linkedin footer
    Twitter footer
    • Ringley Group
    • About us
    • CSR
    • BusyLiving
    • PlanetRent
    • Fire door inspection
    • Talk to us
    • Careers
    • Ask a Question
    • Insight
    • Articles
    • Blogs
    • Subscribe
    • What we do
    • Asset Management
    • Block Management
    • Facilities Management
    • Property Law
    • Surveying / Valuation
    • Building Engineering
    • Financial Services
    • Managing Agents
    • Block Management Locations
    • Co-working
    • Offices
    • London
    • Ringley House
    • 1 Castle Road
    • London
    • NW1 8PR
    • T: 0207 267 2900
    • Manchester
    • 11 Swan Street
    • Northern Quarter
    • Manchester
    • M4 5JJ
    • T: 0330 174 7777
    • Cardiff
    • 122 Bute Street
    • Cardiff Bay
    • Cardiff
    • CF10 5AE
    • T: 0330 174 7747
    • Email: solutions@ringley.co.uk
    • Emergency line 1: 0207 428 2056
    • Emergency line 2: 0207 267 2900
    • Report incident
    Privacy Policy
    Ringley Staff
    Ifsm Irpm member New iso Arla licensed Ombudsman services Rics vertical Gbc

    All content © copyright 2022. Ringley Limited. All Rights reserved. Ringley Limited, incorporated and registered in England and wales. Registered office: Ringley House, 1 Castle Road, London, NW1 8PR. Company No. 03302438
    Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Modern slavery act | COVID-19 risk assessment