CITY TARGETS DRUG HOMES

Surrey is dropping the hammer on drug houses, declaring them
uninhabitable until inspections are conducted and any needed repairs
are complete.

The initiative comes as part of the city's new Controlled Substance
Property Bylaw presented to council Jan. 30.

The bylaw was endorsed unanimously.

Homeowners whose property is used for illegal drug operations will
now be hit in the pocketbook as strict new measures will be required
before the home can be resold.

Once the city determines a home has been altered, electrically or
structurally, to make it suitable for marijuana grow operations or
meth labs, it will be off limits to occupancy.

A notation will be placed on the city tax notice alerting any
subsequent buyers the home has been deemed structurally or
electrically unsound.

Surrey will notify the registered owner the home cannot be lived in
until the following measures are followed:

- - certified companies must conduct a safety inspection to ensure the
property is clear of any toxic dangers, such as mold, fungus, toxic
fumes and condensation;

- - owners must arrange for an independent inspection with a report
submitted to the city attesting to its structural integrity;

- - owners must have a certified electrical inspector ensure the wiring
meets B.C. Building Code requirements;

- - all city costs associated with investigation, dismantling and
subsequent inspections will be recovered from the homeowner;

Mayor Dianne Watts described the bylaw as "part of the puzzle" in
choking off illegal drug operations.

"We have to do everything we can to stop methamphetamines from
getting to our kids," she said.

Coun. Marvin Hunt agreed, adding the bylaw is a good start in
tackling the problem of drug homes.

"I don't think we can ever come to a perfect solution, but it
certainly heads in the right direction," Hunt said.

"No doubt, after a couple of years we'll find some warts that we have
to fix again."