RCMP URGE LANDLORDS TO BE VIGILANT IN HELPING HALT SPREAD OF DRUG DENS

Landlords must be vigilant to stop tenants turning rentals into drug dens,
said a member of the RCMP's street crimes unit.

Const. Kent Dahl told about 25 landlords Friday the telltale signs that a
house or apartment has become home to drug abusers and dealers.

Lots of late-night traffic and a string of visitors who spend only a few
minutes inside often mean the house is being used for drugs, said Dahl.
Visitors carrying or taking away bags could indicate that stolen goods are
being traded for drugs or that marijuana is being hauled away.

One man who rented a house that became a drug den said landlords must be
willing to check out their properties in the early morning hours to detect
problems.

The man, who asked not to be identified, said he staked out his house from
around 4-8 a.m. to see what was going on.

"For two weeks I adopted their schedule."

Once he had proof there was something going on, he managed to evict the
tenants.

RCMP urge landlords to check references and find out as much as they can
about their potential tenants.

If problems arise, Dahl told landlords to get as much information as they
can and take it to police soon after problems arise.

Local property manager Rob Bonin hoped to use the meeting as a springboard
to forming a landlords association to deal with problems.

Bonin believes landlords have a responsibility to help police tackle drug
dens in rented property. They must be diligent to ensure their rentals
don't become home to trouble-makers. "When it comes right down to it, it's
the landlord's own fault."

Bonin, who is running for city council, said absentee landlords sometimes
don't care what is happening on their properties. He suggested the city
could bring in a bylaw making landlords responsible for maintaining rentals
in good order.

Joy Barlow, who acts as an agent for the landlord of about 70 rental units
and houses, believes Friday's meeting was a good start. "We need to work
together as landlords."

Kelly Dodds, a landlord and tenant information worker, said there was so
much response to the meeting some landlords were turned away.

Dodds, who works out of the Community Information and Referral Society
office, said another meeting is to be scheduled. It is also hoped a
landlord association could be formed and hold regular monthly meetings to
discuss issues and do workshops.