2006-05 New Home Buyers find Toxic Chemicals and Molds from Illegal Drug Operators
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by Chad Born, BSc, MBA, CIH, Manager of Industrial Hygiene & Microbiology

May 2006 - It is estimated that there may be as many as 17,500 marijuana grow operations (grow-ops) in British Columbia and as many as 50,000 across Canada. Although more sophisticated operations tend to appear in large commercial buildings such as breweries, barns and offices, the majority are still housed in detached family homes.

Marijuana grow ops create destructive and costly situations which require remediation and certification before occupancy can continue. Damages caused by grow-ops in houses include moved or rotten walls, vents drilled into concrete foundations; electrical re-wiring or by-passes and, of course, remnants of hazardous chemicals and molds. Insurance agencies estimate average repair bills for a former grow-op home to be between $60,000 and $80,000. Worse yet, houses have to be permanently identified as a prior grow-op and prices are accordingly affected. The BC Real Estate Association’s Property Disclosure Statements now includes the disclosure: “Are you aware if the premises or property have been used as a marijuana grow operation or to manufacture illegal drugs?”

Municipalities and cities have taken on the fight against grow-ops with by-laws and communication campaigns such as “take back the community”, the neighbourhood watch program and other awareness programs.

Bylaws in the cities of Coquitlam, Surrey and Chilliwack state that homes that have been used as a grow-op will have a notice of “non-occupancy” posted until the home is inspected and proven satisfactory for occupancy. Inspectors must have specific credentials and must certify that the home is free of pesticides, fertilizers, toxic chemicals, mold and fungi.

A unique initiative taken up by the city of Surrey has investigators check homes with unusually high electrical power consumption. When officials are not granted access to the home, the home’s power is shut off and is not restored until a Surrey electrical inspector is allowed to visit the site.

Landlords whose homes are being used as grow-ops may face a host of city fines, costly certification inspections and notices of non-occupancy. Many landlords are now checking up on rented homes more often in an effort to avoid costly bills and to comply with city by-laws.

A new trend is emerging whereby grow operators find an “investor” from out-of-country to purchase a home with a minimum down payment. If the home is ever discovered to be a grow-op, the owner is unavailable and un-traceable leaving insurance groups and banks liable.

Home owners or potential buyers of homes that were formerly used as a grow-op can protect themselves by having the home tested thoroughly for mold and toxic substances. Environmental consultants or laboratories can be of assistance and tests run from $75 upward. Results can be obtained as fast as the day after submission.