You Know, This Street Smells Really Nice Since Those Quiet People With The Blacked Out Windows Moved In

Cannabis farms in apartments and units are increasingly popular in crumbling economies like the UK's because the return on investment is so high, the legal implications (compared to, say, armed robbery) are fairly minor and the market for high quality gear is so huge.

Here, the police inform landlords how to tell if one of their properties is being used for a cannabis farm, and thereby inform cannabis farmers how to make the farms less suspicious and easy to spot :

The police say there are obvious signs of a cannabis farm is in your neighbourhood: you might notice a pungent and sweet smell on the street with no obvious source; unusual levels of heat coming from a property; or no frost or snow apparent when every house around it is covered. You might also spot unusual noises at odd times such as fans going constantly, or large items like sacks or drums being dragged around. Windows will probably be blacked out by heavy curtains or bin bags from the inside. The creation of new air vents or the use of industrial air vents in a domestic property is also a tell-tale sign.

If your property is being used as a farm you may find that no one answers the door when you visit, and that the locks have been changed without you knowing. The police claim a rented property of a good size with several rooms and an absentee landlord are popular choices for cannabis farmers – and landlords should be wary of people who ask how often you will visit the property when renting their home. Also, cash may be used in transactions rather than direct debits. Landlords are advised to make regular checks of the property once it is leased.

So bad is the damage left behind by some cannabis farmers that insurance companies are now demanding landlords gather a slew of documents and ID from those who rent their properties, specifically to keep out cannabis farmers who might rip up floorboards and cut holes in roofs.

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