GROW-OP WORRIES NEIGHBOUR

Question: We live in a two-storey garden home, one unit of a condo.

There are six garden homes in a row, all connected. We have just
discovered the house immediately adjacent to us, the end unit, was
busted as a grow-op.

The people rented the unit and had been there for less than four
months.

As next-door neighbours, what should we and other neighbours be
concerned about?

What responsibility does the condo have if our attics, for instance,
start to have mould?

I understand that we own our inside walls, but surely we don't have
the same ownership of the attic?

I am not sure if it was Hydro that tipped off the police, or the fact
that the buildup of ice on the roof of the unit was phenomenal.

They say that hindsight is 20/20. I did have concerns because of
strange noises coming from the unit.

When I questioned the tenants, they always seemed to have logical
explanations. I might have been a bit more aware of things at another
time of the year, but we tend to cocoon in the winter.

I do hope that this won't be horribly damaging to our property
values.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, including how one could be
more aware of such a situation and be able to report suspicions earlier.

- -- Name withheld

Answer: Unless you are a licensed facility, it is illegal to grow marijuana.

In addition, the growing process involves the use of heat and
light.

The premises used for these operations tend to use a lot of
electricity and the heat required generates mould. It can as a result
cause serious damage to interior walls.

The tenants of these grow-ops, and failing them, the condo
corporation, are responsible for any damage caused to the unit,
including adjacent attics.

They will have to carry out all needed repairs.

The condo board will likely hire a professional to determine whether
there is any mould or other damages caused by the tenants' activities.

The industry is aware of this problem as it affects values. They also
want to warn consumers and discourage these operations.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board has recently launched a website with
useful information and links. The address is
http://orebweb1.oreb.ca/growops.shtml.

Les Vandor is an Ottawa lawyer, author and broadcaster. Send your
questions to lesvandor@xplornet.com. These answers serve as a guide
and you are encouraged to consult a lawyer. We regret that not all
questions can be answered.