TOWNSHIP ANTI-GROW-OP BYLAW PUTS ONUS ON LANDLORDS

Landlords will be required to make mandatory inspections of their
rental properties every three months, if a proposed anti-drug bylaw
is adopted by Langley Township council.

Property owners who breach the provisions of the Controlled Substance
Property Bylaw, which was given three readings on June 26, face a
maximum fine of $10,000. If an infraction is a continuing offence,
every day that the offence carries on will constitute a separate and
distinct offence.

The bylaw is the municipality's get-tough response to the crime of
manufacturing drugs and growing marijuana, particularly in residential homes.

The crimes pose a significant danger to residents in the house, to
neighbours, firefighters and police. In some instances, properties
are booby-trapped, electrical circuits bypassed and, in the case of
the production of crystal meth, an explosive cocktail of ingredients
is used. Marijuana production uses excessive amounts of water and
heat, creating an environment where mold, a hazard to health, can rapidly grow.

In February, council asked staff to draft an amendment to the
Controlled Substance Property Bylaw, which spells out what landlords
have to do to bring their properties up to standards after a drug
operation has been discovered.

In a report to council, Bill Storie, the chief bylaw enforcement
officer, said that after a review, "it became apparent that many
neighbouring municipalities have taken a stronger approach to try and
stem the continued grow of illegal grow-ops and clandestine (drug) labs."

Richmond, Surrey, Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack have all adopted
similar substance control bylaws that place more onus and
responsibility on property owners, and provide greater penalties for
those who allow their properties to become "a haven for illegal
activities," Storie wrote.

Thus, rather than amend an existing bylaw, staff drafted a new one
that is consistent with other municipalities in the effort to combat
the proliferation of grow-ops and drug labs.

Under the bylaw, police costs will be waived for landlords who report
illegal activity within 24 hours of discovering it, although they
will still be on the hook for the cost of repairs and bringing the
dwelling up to compliance.

In response to concerns from council, administrator Mark Bakken said
that the practicality of enforcement should work well. He said that
if authorities see that a landlord is doing the right thing, the
landlord should face no further challenges.

Councillor Kim Richter suggested that tenants might find inspections intrusive.

"There is always the potential for it to be viewed as intrusive,"
Bakken replied, adding that the Residential Tenancy Act requires
landlords to give written notice before an inspection can take place,
so "there will be no surprise visits."

Although the bylaw's main target is residential properties it applies
to commercial and industrial zones, too.

Before council considers final reading of the bylaw, a public
information meeting will be scheduled.