LANDLORDS ARE VICTIMS OF GROW-OPS

I don't understand the logic used by municipalities to justify charging
landlords inspection costs for residences previously used as grow-ops. This
is akin to making store and home owners pay for policing costs when they
get robbed.

Landlords are victims of this crime. Sophisticated grow operations can
create attractive, but fictitious, tenant histories and/or use credible
front people to frustrate tenant-screening practices. Grow-ops can be set
up in a very short time, and even with regular inspections landlords can
still end up with a grow-op.

Grow-ops can also cost landlords a lot of money in lost rent, increased
insurance premiums and lower property values.

Let's not discourage investment in rental accommodation with this kind of
knee-jerk reaction to an issue that affects all of us. Making it
unattractive for investors to own rental properties leads to a reduced
supply and will result in higher rents.

K. Spencer,

Vancouver