CLEANING UP GROW OPS NO EASY TASK

A move to force prompt clean sweeps of homes ruined by marijuana
grow-ops seems like a no-brainer, but may be more complicated than it sounds.

Okotoks town councillor Beth Kish has given notice that she intends
to introduce a bylaw that would declare grow op houses uninhabitable
and require them to be repaired and inspected before anyone can move back in.

Fixing the problem is a lot more difficult than creating a bylaw.

In B.C. and in Calgary significant changes have been made to their
laws to create the ability for officials, other than police, to
investigate and react to potential marijuana grow-operations.

In Calgary, the city created the STOP Grow Ops Calgary Coalition. The
coalition works in partnership with electricity providers to identify
electricity theft. City council also made changes to its fire code
that allows the fire safety codes officer to force homeowners to
remediate the home up to safe standards.

In B.C. provincial laws have been created that make many of the
conditions associated with grow-ops, like house alterations and the
presence of mold, illegal. When infractions are detected a public
safety team, that keeps police at an arm's length, and includes a
fire inspector, building inspector and electrical advisors, visit the
home and can force the owner to clean up any infractions related to
the grow-op.

Several cities have adopted the Province's bylaws relating to grow-op
infractions and have established public inspection teams, including
Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford.

Under the bylaw harsh financial penalties can be handed out to homeowners.

In Kelowna, the city council has taken on two former grow-op
homeowners by charging them $2,500 for a safety inspection. The fines
will be added to the homeowners' tax bills. The city also said if the
homeowners don't pay their taxes they will seize the homes and sell
them to recoup their costs.

However, one Kelowna town councillor said many homeowners
procrastinate because of the crippling cost of repairing homes
damaged by marijuana grow-ops.

That is where the problem lies. How do you force someone who just
lost an investment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to pour
money into fixing it up?

In most cases people can hold on for a while, paying the mortgage
without a renter, but when the reality finally sinks in that they
can't afford the mortgage, the homeowner is often forced to foreclose.

The question is if a homeowner can't afford to fix their problems,
then is the Town going to force the bank, or the person who buys the
home, to get the work done and if so how quickly?

The bylaw will have to set timelines for necessary repairs.

And in the end how often will it be that the person who owned the
home is on the hook? If the owner of the home had the grow-op and is
successfully prosecuted, they are likely going to spend some time in
prison. In the case of landlords, many will have to pass the problem
on to someone else.

However, a lot can be said for forcing landlords to be diligent when
it comes to screening and keeping an eye on their rental properties.

A simple drive-by past one of the four marijuana grow-ops busted in
Okotoks over the past year, likely would have drawn suspicion. Most
are unfurnished and have unkempt yards. In Westmount the neighbours
said they could smell the marijuana outside the home.

Any diligence on the part of the homeowner could have nipped the
problem in the bud.

Those with out of town properties should get a friend, family member
or property manager to keep an eye on their rental properties. Maybe
the threat of future fines and the cost of repairing a ruined home
will at least get local landlords thinking about the problem, which
is clearly on the grow in Okotoks.

A move to force prompt clean sweeps of homes ruined by marijuana
grow-ops seems like a no-brainer, but may be more complicated than it sounds.

Okotoks town councillor Beth Kish has given notice that she intends
to introduce a bylaw that would declare grow op houses uninhabitable
and require them to be repaired and inspected before anyone can move back in.

Fixing the problem is a lot more difficult than creating a bylaw.

In B.C. and in Calgary significant changes have been made to their
laws to create the ability for officials, other than police, to
investigate and react to potential marijuana grow-operations.

In Calgary, the city created the STOP Grow Ops Calgary Coalition. The
coalition works in partnership with electricity providers to identify
electricity theft. City council also made changes to its fire code
that allows the fire safety codes officer to force homeowners to
remediate the home up to safe standards.

In B.C. provincial laws have been created that make many of the
conditions associated with grow-ops, like house alterations and the
presence of mold, illegal. When infractions are detected a public
safety team, that keeps police at an arm's length, and includes a
fire inspector, building inspector and electrical advisors, visit the
home and can force the owner to clean up any infractions related to
the grow-op.

Several cities have adopted the Province's bylaws relating to grow-op
infractions and have established public inspection teams, including
Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford.

Under the bylaw harsh financial penalties can be handed out to homeowners.

In Kelowna, the city council has taken on two former grow-op
homeowners by charging them $2,500 for a safety inspection. The fines
will be added to the homeowners' tax bills. The city also said if the
homeowners don't pay their taxes they will seize the homes and sell
them to recoup their costs.

However, one Kelowna town councillor said many homeowners
procrastinate because of the crippling cost of repairing homes
damaged by marijuana grow-ops.

That is where the problem lies. How do you force someone who just
lost an investment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to pour
money into fixing it up?

In most cases people can hold on for a while, paying the mortgage
without a renter, but when the reality finally sinks in that they
can't afford the mortgage, the homeowner is often forced to foreclose.

The question is if a homeowner can't afford to fix their problems,
then is the Town going to force the bank, or the person who buys the
home, to get the work done and if so how quickly?

The bylaw will have to set timelines for necessary repairs.

And in the end how often will it be that the person who owned the
home is on the hook? If the owner of the home had the grow-op and is
successfully prosecuted, they are likely going to spend some time in
prison. In the case of landlords, many will have to pass the problem
on to someone else.

However, a lot can be said for forcing landlords to be diligent when
it comes to screening and keeping an eye on their rental properties.

A simple drive-by past one of the four marijuana grow-ops busted in
Okotoks over the past year, likely would have drawn suspicion. Most
are unfurnished and have unkempt yards. In Westmount the neighbours
said they could smell the marijuana outside the home.

Any diligence on the part of the homeowner could have nipped the
problem in the bud.

Those with out of town properties should get a friend, family member
or property manager to keep an eye on their rental properties. Maybe
the threat of future fines and the cost of repairing a ruined home
will at least get local landlords thinking about the problem, which
is clearly on the grow in Okotoks.