5th
Jul 2013
A Landlord’s house that was rented burnt down after flames engulfed the cannabis farm within the property. Obi Ljeoma had no cause to think that his house was being used to grow cannabis, until he got the call from the police telling him his property was going up in smoke.
The Fire Brigade arrived at the property in Clare Road, Grangemouth,Cardiff, in the early hours of the morning to see scores of cannabis plants surrounded by a spaghetti junction of electrical wires that were not connected into the mains meter.
Mr Ljeoma said he was “devastated” by the destruction of the property, which he has owned for the past 10 years.
- “When I got the phone call from the police, I was so worried,” he said. “I thought perhaps someone was hurt. I had no idea there was a cannabis farm there.”
Mr Ljeoma lives in Windsor, Berkshire and the property was originally bought for £130,000 as his son was studying at Swansea University. When his son had finished his qualification, Mr Ljeoma decided to the rent property out.
The first tenant that moved into the property told Mr Ljeoma that the house would be occupied by just four people, an agreement was made, the lease was signed and the tenants began to live there.
He said: “About six months in, I visited the house and everything seemed in order.” Then in utter folly he was persuaded by the tenants to hand over his set of keys, at that moment in time it must not have occurred to Mr. Ljeoma by doing so that he had now stopped himself from being able to make regular checks.
- “The rent kept coming in regularly, so I thought everything was fine,” he said. “I now realise it was pretty naive of me. I’d like to warn other landlords to keep a close eye on their properties, because you never know what could happen.”
During the eighteen months prior to the fire everything seemed in order, no anti-social behaviour and the rent being paid on time until the time of the fire.
Unfortunately Mr.Ljeoma had no property insurance and will have to pay between £50,000 to £60,000 costs to fix the devastated house and plans to make it into flats instead.
- “I’m not put off from renting properties, but I will be a lot more cautious in future,” he said. “The real kicker is, I had planned to come down this week anyway to check up on them. If only it had been a week sooner.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by South Wales Fire and Rescue and the South Wales Police fire investigation team, as of yet they have been unable to make arrests.
PIMS COMMENT
- We have dealt with properties being turned into Canabis Farms on many occassions. Landlords should be ALWAYS be guarded and the best spies are the properties neighbours [give nosey Betty your number she may be you best Alie]
- Always ask for a guarantor
-
-
Larger detached properties [isolated] with Cellars and Lofts ar more susceptible to this type of crime, but we have seen in all types of properties used for this purpose. Check your Landlord insurance policy covers mallicious damage.
-
If you suspect you may be a victim of such situation then call members Helpline for always better to be pre emptive
-
YOU MUST must be able to demonstrate diligence as to who you rented your property to
[Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971] see
Tenancy Vetting
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, a landlord/property manager can receive a maximum of 14 years in prison and/or a fine, if they turn a blind eye and allow the production of controlled drugs to take place in rented accommodation. Under this legislation, there is also the potential for premises to be seized or forfeited.
News Archive »