Welsh landlords are being urged to be vigilant for signs of cannabis farms following a reported rise in their establishment. Dyfed-Powys Police has initiated a specific operation to target organised crime gangs involved in setting up these farms across Wales.
A recent week-long police crackdown led to the discovery of six suspected cannabis farms in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Powys. Officers seized cannabis valued at more than £860,000 and charged six individuals. Detective Chief Inspector Rich Lewis noted that several of the raided properties were terraced rental homes located in or near town centres.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is advising landlords to carry out regular inspections and look for specific warning signs. These include blacked-out or permanently covered windows, a persistent sweet or skunk-like smell, condensation on windows even in mild weather, unusually high electricity usage, and frequent visitors at unsociable hours.
Jason McClean, a director at The Home Insurer, stated that landlords should verify if cannabis farms are covered by their insurance. He claims that more insurers are excluding cannabis farms from policies, and payouts are sometimes limited to between £5,000 and £10,000.