HELP OFFERED TO FIX HOMES USED FOR DRUGS

Standards Needed To Repair Houses Used To Produce Pot, Crystal Meth, CMHC Says

Canada's leading home-mortgage insurer will soon offer advice for
fixing houses that were once used as marijuana-growing operations and
meth labs.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. has conducted research into how
houses with growing operations are affected by drug production, and
should be releasing its findings later this year.

Marie Dyck, senior fraud advisor for CMHC, told an audience of
lenders, brokers and real estate agents in Saskatoon on Friday that
there are currently no standards in place on how to properly
rehabilitate such a house.

"The lenders were asking us, 'What do I do? How do I make this house
safe? What is necessary?' " Dyck said.

She gave an example of a Canadian family that bought a home and
noticed their pictures wouldn't stay up when they hung them on the
walls because the walls were too "mushy."

The homeowners peeled away the new paint and wallpaper and found
layers of mould.

After knocking on neighbours' doors, the homeowners discovered that
their house was raided by police shortly before they bought it.

Dyck said the people who purchased the home had their young son
sleeping in the room where the marijuana nursery had been.

"This is a serious issue across the country," said corporation
spokesman Denys Chamberland.

Chamberland said the corporation now has a step-by-step guide for
home buyers which suggests what professionals, including inspectors,
are available to help in the purchase.