Pubdate: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 DRUG HOUSES - HOMEOWNERS NEED PROTECTION Editor; As a former drug and alcohol abuse counsellor, I applaud any effort to shut down drug houses. As a landlord of two rental properties, I feel there has to be some changes to the Landlord Tenants Act and more cooperation between landlords, bylaws and RCMP. Bylaws need to have the power to go in unannounced to houses landlords' feel are used as drug houses. We have, in the past seven years, had to address drug involvement in both our rental houses. Our calls to RCMP brought no response. The tenants' calls to the rentalman's office brought immediate response. We were not allowed to inspect except at a time given by the tenant. By that time the evidence was removed. Police told us they couldn't get involved. And back and forth we went. It took us having the hydro, and water disconnected to get one group out. The cost of putting that house back to a liveable condition was $30,000. Bylaws needs to have power to assist landlords before it goes this far. CHRISTINE EDEN Surrey - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPF Florida)