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Indoor Marijuana Plants

As a Landlord, How can I Protect Myself From Tenants Growing Marijuana

Written by Professional Restoration on November 10, 2017. Posted in Damage Prevention.

In 2012, Colorado passed Amendment 64, amending the state’s Constitution and changing the way we view the purchase and possession of marijuana in our state. The commercial sale of marijuana began on January 1, 2014, and by April of 2016, a third of Colorado’s counties had adopted some variation of recreational marijuana regulation.

Today, marijuana is taxed and regulated just like alcohol, which means there are some important implications to consider, especially if you’re a landlord in Colorado.

Landlords on the Lookout

Support and opposition for Amendment 64 was nearly even the year Colorado voted on it. Even today, there are those that still view the amendment as problematic, and landlords were some of the first people to raise concerns.

We’ve received dozens of calls from property owners wondering how to protect their investments from tenants growing marijuana, and we’ve researched ways to prevent damage to a property and what to do when damage occurs.

For example, Colorado residents are legally allowed to privately grow up to three immature and three mature marijuana plants in a locked space. Since home growers are resigned to cultivate indoors, inexperienced growers may not understand how to set up indoor lighting, which can cause a fire if not installed or maintained properly.

Additionally, the odor that results from the use of marijuana can dissuade future tenants or decrease the value of a property in certain neighborhoods or communities.

Safeguard yourself and your investment by practicing a few tips we’ve learned from more than 25 years of industry experience.

The Lease Lowdown

Colorado law does not bar landlords from banning smoking indoors. A landlord, for example, can ban smoking indoors and stipulate that production and distribution of drugs is a violation of the lease.

In fact, Amendment 64, explicitly states, “Property owners may prohibit or otherwise regulate the possession, consumption, use, and growth of marijuana on their property.”

Landlords should make sure to include this in a lease when renting a property. Use a federal drug-free lease addendum (there are plenty to choose from online), and have renters read and sign. This addendum should work even if the laws change.

Regardless of Colorado’s Amendment 64, recreational use of marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. As a landlord, if you know drugs are produced or distributed on your property, you may face serious consequences.

Property Problems

In addition to legal problems, there are other threats Colorado landlords should consider:

Did Mary Jane Do Some Damage?

Whether you’re renting now or considering it in the future, know that landlords have some tools to fall back on to protect an investment property.

If you’re not sure about possible damage from home growers in the past, the experts at Professional Restoration can help pin point problems, clean it up, and restore any damage caused by renters exercising their right to buy, grow, and use marijuana.

Remember: you can mitigate risk by simply using a federal drug-free lease addendum in addition to any renter’s agreement. This will help protect you and your property in the event of a major disaster.

If disaster strikes, your friends a Professional Restoration are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can count on Professional Restoration to Respond, Recover and Restore your home.

Got property damage questions? Call our Colorado team to schedule a free estimate at 303-922-4001.

Call Professional Restoration Today!

Professional Restoration specializes in supplying Denver, CO clients with exceptional care and dependable restoration practices. Our decades of experience have enabled us to tend to a wide variety of projects with the knowledge and expertise our clients deserve. Our services include a wide range of restorative work, from water and fire damage to mold remediation, sewage maintenance, and structural repair. When the time comes to invest in a high-quality restoration company, look to Professional Restoration to supply you with skilled staff members, reliable techniques, and courteous customer service.

Call Professional Restoration Today!

The Professional Restoration team’s specialty is in offering complete, in-house restoration services to address any type of property damage. Through our decades of experience, we are able to help with everything from the restoration of water or fire damage, to mold removal, and reconstruction services.

We understand that living and working through the restoration process with a remediation and water restoration company can be an incredible headache. That’s why the team at Professional Restoration will be at your side every step of the way, including dealing with your insurance company to ensure the process is manageable and equitable for you. Our staff has decades of experience navigating the intricacies of insurance claims and we’re prepared to put our expertise to work for you. When you’re ready to look for a commercial restoration company, consider Professional Restoration for our reliable processes, certified staff members, and superior customer service practices.