Property landlord discovers cannabis factory at Bacup home (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Property landlord discovers cannabis factory at Bacup home

4:20pm Monday 22nd June 2009

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PROPERTY landlords are being warned to be on their guard after a rented house was used as a suspected cannabis factory.

Private landlord Shahzad Ahmed issued the message after discovering the remains of a “professional” system at one of his houses.

According to the Mr Ahmed, of Property Investment Consultants, it will cost around £5,000 to repair damage to the house.

But police said the only crime they could investigate was one of abstracting electricity if the tenant by-passed the meter.

Mr Ahmed, who owns around 80 properties, said he visited the house in Pembroke Street, Bacup, after the tenant had not paid his rent or returned calls.

On walking through the front door he said he was immediately “hit” by a strong smell.

Investigations revealed three upstairs rooms had been used as the suspected cannabis farm.

Other rooms were filled with dead leaves, bags of fertiliser and the property’s electricity supply had been tampered with.

Police confirmed they visited the property on Friday, which they found had been kitted out to cultivate cannabis.

They have now asked the electricity board to inspect the house and check whether the meter has been by-passed.

Mr Ahmed said: “We only usually rent to people who are working, but this guy gave me a sob story about being made redundant and his girlfriend being pregnant.

"He had all the correct housing benefit forms, so I thought I’d give him a break.

“I was shocked when I found it because this sort of thing usually happens in big detached properties where tenants pay six months rent up front.”

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