A CBC Marketplace investigation has found that some newly purchased homes show signs of having been used in marijuana grow operations that their current owners never knew about, despite paying for home inspections before they ended up buying them.
Upon re-inspection by Canadian construction guru Mike Holmes, obvious signs that the homes were former grow ups were quite visible, such as patched-up ceiling holes and substantial attic mould. Four home inspectors were called to the home afterwards, and not one of the four made mention of the common grow-op related problems.
The reparations that would need to be done in this particular home to rectify these issues could cost the homeowners upwards of $10,000.
Marijuana growing operations wreak havoc on the homes they’re run in. Dangerous re-wiring jobs, pirated hydro meters, toxic black mould and alterations to the construction that seriously reduce the structural integrity of important building components are only a handful of the costly problems that come with purchasing a former grow-op.
Peel Regional Police Detective Jason Kirkpatrick told CBC that the structural damage done to the foundation of grow up homes can have continued and devastating effects over time.
“We’ve seen houses start to leak because of these breaks in the foundation,” he said, “I think a proper inspector would notice some of the telltale signs, such as ventilation being left in the attics.”
The president of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, Glenn Gogal, said that home inspections offer some protection, but not complete protection against problems of this nature. “There is a lot of protection in hiring a home inspector to give you an evaluation of your property, but it’s not a 100 per cent. It can’t be,” he told CBC.
Gogal mentioned that he agreed the investigation reflected poorly on the inspectors involved and that he could send out e-mails to association members explaining the situation and recommending improvement in the area.
For tips on how to effectively screen home inspectors, check out our post here: www.muddyyork.com/2010/01/01/finding-a-bad-home-inspector
