LANDLORDS ON THE HOOK FOR DRUGS

WEST Vancouver District may no longer cover the inspection, cleanup and
re-occupancy costs for property owners housing marijuana grow-ops and
methamphetamine labs.

Council followed North Vancouver City along with other municipalities in the
province by unanimously endorsing on July 19 a bylaw that allows the
district to recover the cost of damages incurred from drug houses.

The goal is to force landlords to pay attention to what their renters are up
to, according to Coun. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.

The district can do this under the Community Charter, which permits local
government to regulate homes with respect to health, safety and protection
of property.

"The goal is to preclude illegal activity," said Goldsmith-Jones, who
recently attended a forum on methamphetamine hosted by Deb Ryan, director of
community and family health, and the RCMP.

The bylaw puts the responsibility into the hands of homeowners and protects
neighbourhoods from danger such as toxic waste from methamphetamine labs,
which is often dumped in gardens and yards, Goldsmith-Jones explained.

"The whole point is for landlords to be vigilant," she said. "And I think
that's what we expect anyway."