Grow-ops are common so it takes a lot to make the national news. One such recent case in Calgary is a stark reminder of the link between an unhealthy indoor environment, mold growth and maintaining a liveable home.
Police in Calgary recently arrested two women in connection with a marijuana grow-op that was discovered in what was described as a quiet suburban neighbourhood. Officers found a three-stage grow-op, seizing 743 plants and equipment worth more than $900K.
They found something else too – massively extensive mold infestation.
A police spokesperson commented to the press: “Based on the presence of mold in the home, it would appear this grow-op has been in operation for some time,” said Sgt. Len Dalton in a release. “People underestimate the damage grow-ops can do to a home. Besides mold, there are fire risks, electrical issues, and crime-related violence.”
The home was declared unfit for human habitation by officials.
Your Dream Home?
Yes, the law requires that a real estate agent let you know if a home you’re looking at has been used as a grow-op, but the agent can only do that if:
- The owner has let them know about it.
- The owner actually knew about it him/herself.
That’s the real problem: when a grow-op like this one goes unnoticed for years and then is finally sold without ever being discovered by outsiders. Then you may be buying a host of destructive problems – and mold is perhaps only the start of a long list that includes contamination by toxic chemicals and many other issues that affect indoor air quality and the structure of the house itself.
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(416) 575-6111.