LANDLORD WANTS BREAK ON BILL

A Surrey landlord whose house was used as a grow-op wants the city to
give him a break.

Masood Anwar has fallen afoul of a Surrey bylaw that allows the city
to bill landlords for the cost of having police, fire and other staff
deal with grow-ops. Those costs typically run into the thousands.

The grow-op was discovered on Nov. 9, 2005 when a B.C. Hydro
transformer outside the house caught fire.

In a Jan. 18 letter to council, Anwar said he's an unemployed student
and can't afford the tab from the city. He appeared before council
Monday to argue his case.

Anwar said he rented the place on a two-year lease beginning Sept. 1,
2005. He said he inspected the Guildford home twice after renting it
and saw nothing amiss. Under questioning from council, he revealed
that the first inspection was done on the day his tenant occupied the
house. Anwar told council the second inspection took place in October,
but said he only entered the living room and did not look at the rest
of the residence.

Bylaw enforcement manager John Sherstone told council the grow-op
occupied six rooms and said 439 plants, 39 grow lights and other
equipment were seized by police.

"The neighbours said the property owner attended, but never went into
the house," Sherstone said.

"The RCMP allege if you went inside, you would have noticed the stench
of a grow operation."

Mayor Dianne Watts told Anwar the city has a pamphlet available
listing the telltale signs of a grow-op.

"My advice to you would be to get one and get yourself up to speed on
these things. We just don't like grow-ops in our city. Five hundred
plants is a lot," Watts said.

After Monday's meeting Watts said council will await a staff report
before making a decision.

"There were close to 500 plants in there and a fire. We need to get
all the information from the RCMP and other departments and look at
all the components of this."