SEED MONEY

West Van homeowners now on the hook if their renters go into the
marijuana grow-op business.

It used to be that after cops busted a rental property grow-op the
owner might slap on a new coat of paint, re-carpet and put the house
on the market - or find some unsuspecting new tenants.

Those days have gone up in smoke.

West Vancouver has adopted a Controlled Substance and Nuisance Bylaw,
which requires owners to pay for the cost of dismantling the grow-op
as well as the cost of bringing the residence up to a certain health
and safety levels before it can be inhabited again.

"Basically, we are ensuring that the property owners are being held
responsible for the grow-ops that are being created and run, in
particular, in the residential community in West Vancouver," said
bylaw services manger Liz Holitzki.

To date, West Van has used the bylaw three times, including the
recent grow-op explosion on Andover Crescent in May and two weeks ago
on Hillside Road after police raided a rental home and discovered a
400-plant operation.

"What was happening before was rental property owners were renting
out their properties and not paying any attention to who they were
renting to," Holitzki added.

Many new tenants or homeowners would be unaware of the lurking
dangers: mold inside the walls, chemicals in the fixtures and
bypassed electricity, to name just a few of the more common concerns.
"None of that would have been addressed when the homeowner cleaned it
up and re-sold it or reoccupied for renting. Nothing would have been
protecting the new tenants or owners going in."

Now before a home can be reoccupied or re-sold, a third party,
federally-certified hygienist must conduct air quality and other
hygiene tests at the residence. The municipality later reviews the readings.

West Van's new bylaw probably influenced the recent decision of the
Andover home owners to raze their million-dollar home.

It is estimated that structural repairs to the home would have cost
$200,000 - in addition to between $50 and $60,000 to repair damage
from the grow-op.

"[Before the bylaw] they would just cosmetically fix it and move on."

So far, homeowners have complied with the new bylaw, Holitzki added.

Noted West Vancouver Fire Services Acting Assistant Chief Martin
Ernst: "Any house that has been a grow house has to be gone through
extensively to make sure that it is sound for the next people that
will either buy it or move into it as tenants. We're really pleased
with how this new bylaw has worked."

WVPD Sgt. Paul Skelton said rental property owners must be vigilant
with their tenants.

"They must check in on their rental properties on a regular basis to
ensure that no criminal activity is taking place."