Tenant’s lies cause £10,000 damage after marijuana farm found in rental property

A landlord uncovered £10,000 in damages to his rental property after discovering it had been used as a marijuana farm.

Nick Lyons, CEO of inventory management service No Letting Go, said everything seemed normal until neighbours noticed the property’s windows were covered with blacked-out paper.

Mr Lyons is urging landlords and letting agents to carry out regular inspections and stay vigilant for signs of illegal activity.

Neighbours noticed unusual activity

Mr Lyons says he took all the necessary precautions such as referencing the tenant, but things took a turn when the neighbours noticed unusual activity.

He said: “The tenant was referenced, insurance was taken out, and everything seemed routine. The tenant moved in, paid rent on time, and allowed mid-term inspections, often without being present, as he gave permission for the agent to enter. Everything seemed perfect  — no hassle at all.

“The first sign of trouble came after a year when neighbours noticed the windows were blacked out with paper. They raised concerns, calling both the police and the agent to check. This happened several times.

“On each occasion, the agent claimed to conduct an inspection, and the police spoke to the tenant, but nothing seemed amiss. The tenant explained that he worked nights and blacked out the windows to sleep during the day. It seemed plausible, so no further issues were raised.”

Mr Lyons adds that the tenant’s story was crafted to put the neighbours at ease, while they secretly set up a marijuana farm in the property.

He said: “Fast forward to August 2024. I received a call from the estate management company informing me that the fire brigade had been contacted because water was leaking into the flat below mine.

“The tenant below had called the fire brigade after being unable to reach my tenant. The fire brigade forced entry to stop the water leak and discovered the source — an irrigation system malfunctioning in my flat. The fire brigade then found an elaborate marijuana operation in the property.”

Electrics had been tampered with

Mr Lyons explains the whole property was damaged and would cost more than £10,000 to repair.

He said: “Every room was filled with marijuana plants, chemicals, grow bags, water filtration systems, and a tangle of venting and heating equipment used for growing and harvesting. No one was living there—it appeared the entire setup was being controlled remotely.

“The electrics had been tampered with and bypassed the meter, ceilings were damaged to install venting systems, and the property was completely uninhabitable.

“The police informed me that they would secure the property, remove the plants, and then I could clear and repair it. They warned me that it was unlikely anyone would be charged, as finding the responsible individuals was low priority. We later found out the tenant claimed he had sub-let the flat and knew nothing more.

“The plants were removed, and the property is now being cleared. The overall cost of repairs—including removing the equipment, fixing electrics, painting, carpets, and damage to the flats below — is expected to reach £10,000.”

Suspicion of illegal activity is a grey area when it comes to property inspections

Mr Lyons says he was dumbfounded by how his letting agent could have missed the warning signs, but the agent later admitted they hadn’t been able to complete any inspections in the past year.

He said: “The tenant always had an excuse, and because of his good track record, the letting agent didn’t push further. In fact, as we later discovered, the tenant had sub-let the property and was living in France. He likely didn’t want the agent to know, as he was either receiving more in rent than he paid me or was involved in the illegal activity himself.”

Suspicion of illegal activity is a grey area when it comes to property inspections.

Mr Lyons says under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 which gives landlords the right to enter the property with 24 hours’ written notice. If the tenant doesn’t respond or refuses entry, the landlord cannot legally enter. In emergencies (like a gas leak or flood), the landlord can enter without permission.

However, suspicion of illegal activity is a grey area when it comes to property inspections.

He said: “Suspicion alone doesn’t grant immediate access. The best course of action is to contact the police with the evidence you have and then issue a standard 24 hour notice to inspect. If the tenant continues to refuse it can constitute a breach in your tenancy agreement.

“If the tenant refuses access without a valid reason, you can serve a formal breach of tenancy notice, known as a Section 8 notice. Failing that, you can apply for a court injunction to gain access. In emergencies, landlords have the right to enter without notice but should document the situation thoroughly.”

Mr Lyons says the most important takeaway for landlords and agents is the value of thorough documentation.

He said: “Evidence is essential, not only for deposit claims but also for insurance purposes. While I’ll recover some costs, the agent’s failure to conduct inspections has cost me thousands — not an easy conversation for any agent to have with their landlord, and one that certainly affects their reputation.”

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