I own a rental property. It was rented while I was deployed to Iraq. The renter is probably a drug dealer, and possibly producing methanphedamins. Can the authorities, whoever that may be, condem the house? My neighbor told me that they could, and that it would not be covered by my insurance. I don't know if this is my neighbors trying to get me to evict my renter, or if this is something that I REALLY need to worry about.
2006-09-09 15:55:05 · 26 answers · asked by andi 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Notify the local police department and let them know what's going on.
The sooner the better.
The waste products created from meth manufacturing can pollute your property, and in many cases, cannot be completely recovered.
It's a serious matter, and needs to be addressed asap.
2006-09-09 15:56:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contact the police, and supply them with the reason you suspect that this is the case. If they are cooking meth, then they have violated any renters agreement I have ever heard of and can be evicted. As the property owner, you can grant them (police) limited access, and with a warrant, they've got access to anything provided for in the scope of the warrant. They cannot take the property from the lawful owner unless you as the deeded owner can be proven complicit in what is going on. You pretty much rule that out if YOU contact them and start the ball rolling. The other folks posting here are correct, cooking meth is toxic as hell, and your house may be a write off because of it. Your state might have a compensation fund for this type of thing, funded by drug money seizures. If that turns out to be the case, it maight help defray some of the loss. Otherwise, you would have to sue the renters, and judgements are worth about what the cost of the paper they are printed on is. Good luck, and don't wait.
2006-09-09 23:01:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to notify the local authorities as soon as possible. They will be able to take care of whatever type of investigation that needs to be done. If you have someone who is overseeing the property for you while you are deployed, you need to notify them of what is going on. This is a frightening situation. I own rental property also, and I actually let it sit empty for the better part of three years, until I was positive I had a renter that was going to be reliable, had no criminal background and was gainfully employed. If you have a lawyer, you will want to inform him/her of what is going on. Do you know any of the other neighbors around the property, so that they can tell you if they know anything? I know that it has been on the news about a lot of these labs producing toxic fumes that have sent many people to the hospital and a couple of children have ended up with respiratory difficulties; which they will deal with the rest of their lives. These labs have also blown up and damaged other property and injured police personnel. You do not want to take the chance of having any of these things happen. If you notify the authorities, they can also check with your neighbor and make sure that he is not making false statements to you for his own unknown agenda. God bless you for your service to our country and protecting our freedoms. I wish you the best with your property and a safe homecoming. Have a good night!
2006-09-09 23:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by Sue F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you still in Iraq? Cause there would be a slightly different solution...
If you are NOT still in Iraq, as a landlord, you have the right to "inspect" the property.
In most states, you must give 24 hours notice.
Call the police, and tell them you would really like to have an officer come with you, due to the possibility of a meth lab...
They will NOT need a search warrant, IF they do not touch anything. They may take pictures... But, also they would know what they should look for better then you would.
Meth is a VERY dangerous substance to make.
"While still in operation, or prior to a seizure, there is a high risk for acute exposure to harmful chemicals in meth labs. If you discover an active meth lab, do not attempt to enter. Contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.
Many of the chemicals used in the "cooking" process can be harmful. Short-term exposures to high concentrations of chemical vapors that may exist in a functioning meth lab can cause severe health problems or even death. For this reason, meth "cookers", their families, and first responders are at highest risk of acute health effects from chemical exposure, including lung damage and chemical burns to different parts of the body. Heating solvents inside a building can create a highly flammable situation; meth labs are often discovered when fire fighters respond to a blaze."
If you are still in Iraq, you may want a family member, or "temp" landlord, or landlord" to take the above steps.
But, I DO think you should contact the cops for their advice.
***** EDIT ADD IN *****
For the "answerer" further down that says that the "renters OWN it", as you know, he is W-R-O-N-G.
The renters do NOT own the property they are renting. They are renting the USE of the property.
They pay no taxes on it, they have no title...
The OWNERS of the property have EVERY RIGHT to go in and inspect the rented property.
WITH PROPER NOTICE.
For your states laws, look up "Landlord right of entry".
2006-09-09 23:07:28 · answer #4 · answered by ICG 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you know that they are doing it, then the house can be taken away from you. Usually the neighbors know and will either contact the landlord, or in some cases the police. So there should be some notice to the landlord to get rid of the problem (usually by asking for the assistance of law enforcement). Still, for all this, there are some landlords who are just too lazy or complacent to take care of the situation. These are the ones who usually lose the property.
Sometimes it is unknown to anyone because it's so well concealed. If a landlord can prove that he/she had no knowledge of it, then they will usually be OK. Usually that requires testimony of neighbors, though, to corroborate the landlord's statement that noone had any idea that it was going on.
2006-09-09 23:00:03 · answer #5 · answered by falkon81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they can condemn the property because of the lethal chemicals that are used in the production of meth...you want the police or whoever to stop them as soon as possible and if you can get the renters out the sooner the better, that is if they really are making the meth.
2006-09-09 23:40:45 · answer #6 · answered by Walter J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evict the person...tell him your renovating and putting the house on the market...and do u notice a high amount of traffic to your rental property at all hours of the day/night?? Check into your rights as a landlord, and get a good lawyer.
2006-09-09 23:05:39 · answer #7 · answered by xtcsathena 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can condem the house. Since you are the landlord, it's your property.. if you have proof that illegal activity is happening then call the authorities.. if you do not have proof, since you own it, you can inspect the property. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, hire a local sheriff to go with you. You basically must prove that you don't support what they are doing on your property.
2006-09-09 23:06:07 · answer #8 · answered by FocalBlur 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can sue your renter for damages to property loss, or even sue for the professional cleaning (often worth more than the value of the house) Speak with a lawyer in your state, they should know what types of retrobution you can seek.
This is why I have NEVER rented out any of my properties, even when the sale is longer than expected! People who can not buy a home is for a reason!
2006-09-09 22:59:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only 1 tenant, if not then you have the others at great risk of fire and contamination. If not, then you have to worry about liability from the environmental, the fires, explosions, and criminal activity.
Future rentals might be sickened if the chemicals remain in the apartment.
You need to jump on this right away.
2006-09-09 23:15:56 · answer #10 · answered by Rob 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋