8th
Jun 2023
The North Yorkshire Police Force has warned BTL landlords that throughout the county there is a significant surge in cannabis farms in rented business and PRS properties.
It has provided landlords with a list of what to look out for in case their properties are being or could be used for drug cultivation.
It seems that rental properties across the UK are seen as easy pickings for drug dealers’ cannabis farms because of absentee landlords.
North Yorkshire Police officers are asking landlords to be on constant lookout as both commercial and residential properties are targeted as a potential base for a farm.
A spokesperson for the police force said: "Cannabis farms are sophisticated set-ups used by organised crime gangs to produce several crops of the drug over time.
"Cannabis production is extremely harmful to communities and often used to fund criminal gangs involved in human trafficking, sexual exploitation and the distribution of other drugs including cocaine and heroin.
"Furthermore, the electricity supply may have been tampered with, creating a high risk of fire which could spread to neighbouring properties.
"Residential and commercial premises could be used as cannabis farms, so today we're issuing a warning to landlords to be vigilant around your properties.
"The cost of restoring a property if it's been used as a cannabis farm is very high and may fall to the landlord.”
North Yorkshire police has issued a list of possible signs of someone looking to start up a farm in their property:
- Poor or no references from a previous letting agent or landlord;
- Preference to pay rent in cash without reasonable cause;
- Offering to pay several months in advance;
- Wanting to keep utility bills in a landlord’s name;
- Asking for complete privacy, requesting no periodic inspections or preventing the inspection of the property when given reasonable notice;
- Changing locks to keep landlords and agents away from a property.
Any landlords who are harbouring suspicions about tenants and cannabis farms can call their local police force can either call their local police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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