Marijuana grow-ops have become an unwelcome but pretty routine facet of contemporary life in the GTA. Homes old and new, in upscale or working class neighbourhoods – all can and have been used by organized criminals to grow marijuana.
Marijuana cultivation requires constant moisture and the houses that have served as grow-ops are riddled with problems, including mold and mildew and generally poor indoor air quality.
When You Buy…
When you’re in the market for a new home, you’d like to believe that you’re being given all the information that’s important – such as whether the home was ever used as a marijuana grow-op.
Now, if the real estate agent is aware of such a situation, they are required to let you know under their professional Code of Ethics. But – what if the agent doesn’t know? The actual owner of the home isn’t under any legal obligation to let you know unless you ask them point blank.
The Web to the Rescue
There are websites that can help you get to the bottom of that property that looks perfect from the outside, including:
These web-based directories can let you know whether a property was ever used as a grow-op or meth lab, or whether an insurance claim was ever made for water damage or sewer backup – all situations that can contribute to a wide variety of problems including widespread mold infestation.
The caveat: Naturally, like anything else on the web, you’ll have to do your homework.
- Verify any information you get online in the real world of public records and documents.
- A good tip? Ask the neighbours.
Remember too that this type of website can only catch those cases where the marijuana growers were caught and prosecuted. What happens if they remain undetected and simply move on after a few years, putting the property on the market to an unsuspecting public?
Knowledge is The Key
If you suspect that a property may have been used as a marijuana grow-op, we can do indoor environmental assessments and testing for telltale signs like mold, yeast, bacteria and other toxic substances.
- Know what you are getting into. For Grow-Op & Drug House Testing Services in Toronto, Contact Moldinspections.ca for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global news, official supplier to HGTV’s Income Properties with Scott McGillivray and Leave It To Bryan and recommended by local contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.