NORTH COWICHAN GROW-OP BYLAW BAD FOR LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS

Dear editor

When your rent goes up by $25 a month, don't blame your landlord,
blame North Cowichan council. It has passed a nuisance control bylaw
that requires your landlord or his representative to inspect every
rental property, every two months. The cost of this inspection --
provided it is not after hours or difficult to arrange -- is $50.
Landlords must comply with this bylaw, even when there is no
suggestion the tenant is involved in any grow op or meth lab! The
mayor is reported as saying that this bylaw is unenforceable because
of the municipality's lack of enforcement officers. That may be so,
but landlords are required to obey all laws or risk nullifying their insurance.

It is our belief this bylaw goes much too far. Most of the people
renting homes or commercial premises in North Cowichan are good
tenants. Yes, there are a few bad apples, but do these few make it
necessary to inspect every rental every two months? These intrusions
will certainly affect a family's right to the quiet enjoyment of
their home. Not to mention that the cost of this inspection will
eventually cause rents to increase. Being a landlord does not
constitute an easy way of making money.

There are other ramifications to this bylaw that bear watching --
should a trace of a banned substance be found in one suite of a
50-suite apartment building, the whole building has to be emptied and
the place professionally cleaned and inspected before anyone is
allowed to return. The police are afraid of booby-trapped grow ops.
How do our inspectors protect themselves? The police on the safety
committee at North Cowichan promoted the adoption of this bylaw. It
is our belief they have downloaded their responsibilities onto
landlords and their agents. They cannot easily get permission to
enter a person's home but expect us to do their work for them.

Twenty-five per cent of our population rents their home. This bylaw
fails them as well as the landlord. Neither want inspections that
disrupt their lives with such regularity. When your rent goes up or
you are bothered by these inspections, please don't blame the
landlord. Blame North Cowichan council and its lack of foresight in
passing this bylaw.

Dorothy Whittome

North Cowichan