$10,000 If Tenants Grow Marijuana

[Oz]

The British Columbia city of Chilliwack is poised to bring in a bylaw that would fine landlords $10,000 if they don't notice tenants have set up marijuana growing operations.

 

Landlords say the bylaw would unfairly penalize them for being duped by unscrupulous renters.

 

Municipal officials in Chilliwack, located about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver, say local police are shutting down an average of two grow operations every week. Still, they don't seem to be putting a dent in B.C.'s $7-billion industry.

 

The new bylaw, which councillors will vote on Monday night, requires landlords to check on tenants regularly to make sure the property is not being used illegally.

 

"The lawyers are saying it will absolutely hold up," said councillor Sharon Gaetz. "If [landlords] don't pay the fine, it goes on their property taxes, and if the taxes aren't paid, the house is sold."

 

The head of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association, Terry Smith, said it's not fair to target landlords who already pay a steep price for renting to marijuana growers.

 

"If you have a grow-op in one of your rented homes, it may cost you $30,000 or $40,000 to return that to some sort of habitable condition," he said.

 

A $10,000 fine on top of that cost is too heavy a burden for landlords, Smith said.

 

By contrast, most marijuana growers are fined just $1,200 when they're caught – and police say many consider that just a cost of doing business.

 

Author: CBC News Online staff

Date: 16/08/04

Source: CBC News

Copyright: Copyright © CBC 2004

[Pure]

shit that just ain't right it's not a landlords fault if their tenants are growers they are just trying to enforced inspections a bit more I think

[greenacres]

just another case of the law boys getting the public to do their job for them. landlord rings up copper, copper busts big bad mj grower . copper gets pat on back and has done jack shit. next stage will be ppl will get a reward for dobing in a grow location.

[Typical stoner]

Yet another way to screw landlords out of some cash and get them to do the job of the police. Help the [police lock yourself up and give em all your money. Legalise it stop criminalising it!!

 

:angry:

[free choice]

OH yeah .. & some CANADIANS are MISERABLE MORONS too