HOMES THAT GROW STILL IN LIMBO

Fourteen homes formerly housing drug operations have come under the
intense scrutiny of the city since the establishment of new
regulations last year.

These homes, all raided by the RCMP for marijuana-grow operations,
have fallen under the restoration provisions of the new municipal
bylaw, meaning they cannot be occupied until they meet all city and
provincial regulations, including those relating to building, fire
and health safety.

Of the 14 homes, three have gone through the process and are now
occupied, said city building inspector Tony Adshead.

"As a building department, we look for any safety issues,
building-wise. Maybe they've cut great big holes to run ducts or
tampered with the plumbing."

Often there are fire hazards related to the electrical wiring, which
need to be addressed.

One of the biggest obstacles, however, is the presence of mould
created by the humid conditions orchestrated for optimum marijuana
plant growth.

"Anywhere that water can go, that's where mould will follow," said
Greg Danyluk with Seacor Environmental Inc.

The local environmental engineering firm has been called upon
half-a-dozen times under the provisions of the bylaw to gauge the
concentration of mould before and after restoration work.

"You can visually see it if it's real bad. It's up the walls on all
four sides" and can even impact a building's framing, said Danyluk.

While Seacor Environmental does the mould testing, other companies
take on the labour-intensive task of getting rid of the fungal
growth. Workers donning protective clothing rip out drywall and
carpeting, and clean the air of "floating" spores, before putting it
all back together. Depending on the severity of the damage, the bill
can top $50,000.

"The city's on the right track. If you left it up to the owner to do
it, they're not trained properly and you're going to end up with a
house that is a sick building," said Reg Dennill, owner of Thompson
Valley Restoration, which has experience in cleaning up after
marijuana-grow operations.

Depending on the size of the illegal operation, making a home livable
is a costly undertaking.

And it's now one which is being borne by the homeowner, according to
Dennill, since insurance companies are no longer including this type
of damage under their policies.

"Before it was covered under tenant vandalism," he said. "Most
policies now have an exclusion regarding illegal acts."

If the damage isn't severe, and a homeowner decides to undertake some
of the work themselves, the home still has to pass the inspection of
an environmental assessment before the city clears it for occupation.

Given all the cost involved, including inspection fees paid to the
city, the RCMP view the new bylaw as a deterrent to anyone
considering an indoor marijuana-grow operation.

Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Fran Bethell said the bylaw sends a message to
landlords to be more diligent about who is renting their properties.
And for homeowners who are involved in illegal activity, the bylaw
provides an added penalty.

"Besides being charged [criminally], they also have the added expense
of bring that house up to an acceptable, livable standard."

Bethell said city regulations also prevent properties from just being
"flipped over," with new plants and new equipment brought in soon
after a police raid.