PUT PRESSURE ON DOPE GROWERS, NOT HOME OWNERS

Dear editor,

So, the City of Courtenay is going to make the home owners pay for the
police and the damages done to the houses they rented out? What is
wrong with this picture?

Now this is only my opinion; but I think when people rent out houses
to other people, it might be a good idea for them to do a criminal
record check on the renters. That way they will know who is
trustworthy and who isn't, (if they had done this at the previous address).

After all since the home owner was kind enough to rent out their house
to them in the first place, they should make it the renter's
responsibility to come up with the money for the repairs. Isn't that
why they have damage deposits?

It might be a good idea for the landlords/owners to put a clause in
their rental agreement to the effect that if they are going to use the
house for something other than living in, then that clause should be
in there.

The people who are renting should be the ones made to pay for the
damage done in the house when they use it for a grow-op. It's not
right that they get away with this kind of thing. All this does is
show the youth how not to have respect for other people's property!

I mean, if the adults aren't going to show respect for the house they
are renting, then how are the kids supposed to learn what respect is?

Making the home owners pay for the repairs to the houses and then
having to pay the RCMP as well is a little too much, I think. If the
City of Courtenay is going to do this, why should the owners rent
their houses out in the first place? It doesn't make sense to me.

If the renters are using these houses for grow-ops, then maybe they
should think about buying their own house so they can destroy it. And
when that happens they might think twice about using it for something
other than living in. And when the bills start coming in they will see
how much the owners of the rented houses had to pay out for repairs.

Bottom line; If people have to have a criminal record check done for
their jobs, they should be able to have one done on the renters. If it
comes up they have done this before, don't rent the house to them.
That way you are covering your butts before the dotted line is signed
on.

If they are honest they will do it, and if they don't want to do it,
well you know you can't trust them.

ANN M. SAMPSON

Cumberland