The Damages From Grow Ops
Hydroponic marijuana cultivation can cause a great deal of damage to real estate. It often requires renovations to property. These renos might cause damage to the home. The repair costs can be huge, generally reaching the multiple thousand dollar mark. In extreme cases grow ops result in the house being torn down.
Hydroponic grow systems require a huge supply of water. This usually means that the growers modify the plumbing system of the house. One by-product is excess water vapour. This requires ventilation systems to alleviate mould on the crop. These venting systems often make use of holes in the ceiling, pipes and hoses.
Moisture is an enemy of structures, and the extra moisture arising from grow ops is no exception. It can lead to mould in wall cavities and surfaces. The mould and other grow op requirements, like pesticides, result in the presence of noxious compounds. These things often remain in the structure long after the grow op is gone. This can create health problems for people with mould sensitivity. Sufferers of asthma and upper respiratory disease are particularly affected.
Grow ops use a lot of electricity with the lights. The wiring involved is often done in a shoddy and unprofessional manner. Permits to do this wiring are seldom acquired. Growers often steal power by tapping into the supply before the meter. This can be very dangerous, especially if it is never rectified. Electrical modifications like this can actually kill an unsuspecting person who inadvertently encounters a grow op. They are a definite fire hazard. Heavy power usage can also create situations that cause fires years later, after the grow op is gone.
Insurance companies are well aware of this. The industry reports that average grow op related claims top $40,000. They attempt to shift the grow op risk onto the homeowner as a result. This makes it incumbent on the landlord to protect himself against grow ops.Some insurers simply will not cover grow op damage, meaning that owners must self-insure through personal visits or a professional property manager. Some insurance companies will deny claims if the owner has not exercised caution.
If the police are involved the problem can get worse. They usually make sure that the utilities are cut off, and that is an additional problem in cold weather. Before the problem can be fixed the owner will need to get building permits. An environmental assessment will be needed to prove that mould has been dealt with. If there were previous, non-grow op related renovations done without a permit, they will have to be removed. Grow ops, clearly, are a very expensive proposition for a property investor. They need to be avoided at all costs.
