TARGETING LANDLORDS NOT THE ANSWER

As a landlord of several rentals houses, I was alarmed to read, "City eyes
marijuana grow-up bylaw," February 6.

I agree that marijuana grow-ops and labs are not acceptable. I have been in
the rental business for more than 25 years and I have not yet rented a
house in which I suspect any illegal operations will occur. All tenants are
very sweet and are very good at buttering the landlords at the beginning.
They set up the landlord with sweet talk, especially when they bring their
small children.

By the time the landlord realizes what is going on, it's too late. It is a
nightmare to get them out. The tenants tear the landlord apart from not
paying the rent, to sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars of repairs.

Let us say for example: A house is $700 per month rental.

*$130 property taxes per month

*$30 sewer/water

*$40 fire Insurance

*$425 mortgage payments

*Total expenses: $625

*Profit: $75

Out of this $75 other repairs will occur such as: roof repair, hot water
tanks, etc.

I would like to share with you my experience of two years ago. I discovered
a grow-op in one of my rentals. I did not take 24 hours to advise the city
bylaw. I immediately reached for my cell phone and contacted the RCMP. The
RCMP calculated there were approximately 540 plants. Let me tell you what
happened.

BC Hydro removed the meter. RCMP punched a hole in the water bed, which
flooded the room and other rooms, ruined all the carpets.

I had to pay $1,500 to hook power back on to regulation standards. The
entire affair cost me over $4,000. Of course, I had the damage deposit of
$425. Ha!

Now, with the proposed bylaw which is in the first reading at council, I do
not know of anyone in their right mind willing to invest their money in
buying real estate as a rental investment. Furthermore, no landlord will be
excited to investment in real estate properties in Chilliwack. They will be
digging themselves into the ground. It is more economic for the landlords
to push down the houses, meaning pay less taxes, less insurance and no more
headaches. You will find more people with no place to stay.

You will have a problem on your hands - where to put all these people? And
some are in the low-income bracket. Is Chilliwack going to become like
Vancouver's East Hastings? People sleeping on the streets? How are you
going to answer these low-income families? Will the crime rate go up?

Even if I were to check all rentals every month, with the new residential
tenancy act, which came out January 1, 2004, a landlord can not go in as
easily as you might think.

I would recommend instead of going after the poor landlords who are not
making any profits in rental houses, why not go after the justice system to
enforce tougher penalties for grow-ops. The grow-operators are getting away
with small fines or a slap on the hand, it is my understanding they are
making very large profits.

Where are the landlord's profits? The landlord makes the proper investment,
pays taxes, and quite often does not get rental payments, eventually he
gets the short end of the stick. With this new bylaw, you are for the
grow-ops' and not the landlord's benefit because the grow-ops have nothing
to lose. Also, not all tenants are grow-ops and their privacy is in
question. The landlords are not getting a fair chance.

Why not bring all the landlords to a council meeting and hear our side? You
and your council are not listening to the landlords. Where are landlord's
rights, peace of mind and justice? Why not work together and come to a
reasonable, sensible solution? Landlords as taxpayers need to be heard.