DRUG HOUSES - HOMEOWNERS NEED PROTECTION

Editor;

As a former drug and alcohol abuse counsellor, I applaud any effort to
shut down drug houses.

As a landlord of two rental properties, I feel there has to be some
changes to the Landlord Tenants Act and more cooperation between
landlords, bylaws and RCMP. Bylaws need to have the power to go in
unannounced to houses landlords' feel are used as drug houses.

We have, in the past seven years, had to address drug involvement in
both our rental houses. Our calls to RCMP brought no response. The
tenants' calls to the rentalman's office brought immediate response.

We were not allowed to inspect except at a time given by the tenant.
By that time the evidence was removed.

Police told us they couldn't get involved. And back and forth we went.
It took us having the hydro, and water disconnected to get one group
out. The cost of putting that house back to a liveable condition was
$30,000.

Bylaws needs to have power to assist landlords before it goes this
far.

CHRISTINE EDEN

Surrey