Pubdate: Mon, 03 Mar 2003 Source: Richmond News (CN BC) Copyright: 2003, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.richmond-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244 Author: Trudi Beutel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) GROW-OP DANGERS COULD SPREAD TO STRATAS, CONDOS Landlords and strata owners should pay close attention to what's happening around their property as insurance issues surface due to the proliferation of indoor pot farms. Grow-ups are now an "epidemic", according to David Keen of the Insurance Brokers of B.C. As a result, insurers are looking at ways to protect themselves from claims that arise from the destruction caused by indoor marijuana growers. "As (the grow-op phenomenon) has become so prevalent, insurance companies are getting caught in these things," said Keen. "Insurance companies are looking at all angles on all policies." In addition to moisture damage from humidity and fires as a result of faulty wiring, grow-ops often incur thefts and break-ins. According to Dennis Prouse, government relations manager with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, grow-ops have tended to be located in rented houses so the goings-on could be kept private. But as grow-op owners become more sophisticated about hiding the clues to their illegal businesses (using filters to mask the smell, for instance), the problem is starting to spread to strata-run apartments and condos. Keen said strata councils may face insurance troubles if individual owners rent out their spaces to grow-operators and damage results. Many strata councils are already facing steep building insurance rates, he said. Those who have submitted too many claims to their insurers are sometimes refused coverage. Add a fly-by-night marijuana grower and the result could be expensive for the grow-op strata's neighbours. That's why Keen says it's important for building councils and individual landlords to keep an eye on what is going on in their properties. "Part of one's responsibility as a landlord is going into the building once every two months or so to inspect it." The landlord has to make an appointment, and naturally the tenant is able to hide some things from notice, Keen said. But a major grow-op would be difficult to keep under wraps with regular inspections. Insurance companies can't be expected to make up for inattentive landlords, in Keen's view. Times are tough for insurers, he said. "I've been in the business for 43 years and this is the worst I've ever seen it." Some condos' insurance fees have gone up 40-50 per cent. There isn't much sympathy in the industry for clients whose claims are for damage created by a dope-growing renter. Keen advises strata and condo councils as well as landlords to go over their policies in detail with their brokers, and to visit their properties regularly. Prouse agreed. He said signs of grow-ops include a pungent smell, covered windows, the constant hum of power, people coming and going at all hours, an aggressive dog, numerous discarded bedding pots, and nobody actually appearing to live at the residence. "We're doing our best to educate landlords because the grow-op phenomenon largely affects rented premises," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager