For thinking that there might be a brand new cannabis farm being set up in the flat below me? Or am I being over dramatic?

[EllieArroway]

I was on here a little while ago asking for advice about my nightmare neighbour who lived below me. Unfortunately, she died rather suddenly so new tenants were found for the flat.

A single man (apparently) moved in. Fine. Nice and quiet so far which is all I really care about.

But:

The shared hall stinks of cannabis all the time. This doesn't bother me much - but it smells a bit different to the usual, smoky smell. It smells more "vegetative", if you see what I mean. And it's permanent.

One man is meant to have moved in - but several different ones let themselves in and out at different times of the day and night. One even rang my bell a few days ago because he didn't have a key to the main front door, just the separate flat door.

Very, very bright lighting can be seen through the glass panel in their front door. Much brighter than have ever been seen with previous tenants.

My worry is that if a farm has been set up, there are quite serious fire risks.

I spoke to my upstairs neighbour and we've discussed the possibility of having a quiet word with the police. But I don't know if there's any justification for that yet - and if we're wrong, we would have to live with one very pissed off neighbour who'd had his home raided by the police on our say so. I don't fancy that much.

So......? What do you think. Anyone have experience of this?

Thanks.

[quoteunquote]

check your electric meter, they often tap into neighbour's supply,

turn off everything in the house, and then see if the meter is still turning.

[TiaMariaandSpringCleaning]

The police have been actively asking neighbours to look out for this sort of thing and report it, in b some areas they've given out scratch and sniff cards so m people know what it smells like - definitely report, they'll take it seriously and check it out

[littlehalo]

Any update OP?

[OddBoots]

We had this next door to us a few years ago and the smell you describe sounds right.

[50shadesofbrown]

I've also heard of them tapping into neighbours electric, or bypassing meters. Both potential fire hazards. Report them asap. If it's as obvious as you say, the Police should be able to spot it a mile off.

[GruffaloAteMySocks]

I'd tell the police, the smell alone would give them reason to investigate.

[Bossybritches22]

:D

[TraceyTrickster]

We had a rental property which was found to be a cannabis farm when the police went to evict the tenants (we are in Aus).

The regular inspections had not helped as they ran it out of the shed in the back yard. Cables etc were buried in the grass/lawn and police said it was a very efficient set up.
We had no idea....but I now think my neighbours are running one as their windows are permanently covered with cardboard..
You can report your suspicions, as the police go in gently until they are reasonably sure.

[EllieArroway]

Update: New neighbour has boarded up the glass panel in his door, changed the lock and installed a mortice and I am currently sitting here sweltering in the flat above his. It's so hot I've turned my own heating off.

My downstairs neighbour has contacted the police - I'll be astonished if this isn't a farm now.

Will keep you nosy cah's updated

[EllieArroway]

Upstairs neighbour has contacted the police, I mean.

[Bogeyface]

I hope you get a good result, although be prepared for a racket like WWIII at 6 am when they raid the place!

There was a spate of these locally, all in rented houses and all reported by neighbours. Apart from anything else, the smell is horrible, really sickly and nauseating, why the hell should you put up with that?

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

you should contact them too!

[TheRealFellatio]

But if they are using it as a growing farm they won't actually be living in it, will they? Just coming and going? Are they Vietnamese? g There was a whole really interesting thread on this a couple of months ago with lots of really good pointers on how to spot a cannabis farm. I think the lights will be on all day and night and the windows will be covered.

Also it won't smell of smoke will it? They will be growing it, not smoking it. Not sure if the plant smells of much in its fresh, raw state. It may just be that they smoke a lot of it.

[TheRealFellatio]

Oops, sorry meant to add that apparently many of these 'farmers' who rent houses to grow cannabis are Vietnamese.

[EllieArroway]

No - not Vietnamese, definitely Brits, I think. It's weird - it doesn't sound like anyone is living there - no TV sounds, toilet flushing, conversations, all stuff we normally hear given that it's just a converted house. Just someone leaving regularly at 6.15 am every morning. But it's all very "off" - even other people in the street have mentioned that something doesn't seem quite right.

And, you're right - it's not a smoky smell, it's more "earthy", but definitely cannabis.

[TheRealFellatio]

Hmmm. Wait for him to go out and look through the letterbox for about ten minutes. If it makes you very happy and very mellow you are right. Call the police.

[weegiemum]

The house opposite us at our last address was a cannabis farm. Silvery plastic over the windows, bright light, odd smell, people coming and oing at weird times.

I wasn't around when it was raided, but it took about 6-8 weeks of daily work to repair all the damage!

[FryOneFatManic]

I remember reading an article a few years ago about a woman who rented out three properties to city types, and it turned out all three were being used as one giant cannabis farmm The houses were wrecked and the amount of money it took to repair the damage meant she was forced to sell the houses just to break even.

[quoteunquote]

I think you need to ring the police and ask for someone to come round, if you are feeling heat, then they will have a lot of lamps on the go,

It's a massive fire risk, the household wiring is not designed to support a full hydroponic and lamp set up, make sure all other neighbours turn off their all electrical items and check their meters are not still turning.

I would ask the police to make sure there is no fire risk, when you phone I would ask them to log that you have informed them you believe there is a fire risk.

they often go up in flames, check all fire alarms in your place, and in the communal hall.

[TWinklyLittleStar]

The smell from cannabis plants is incredibly pungent, it doesn't need to.be smoked to stink to the high heavens and it lingers like you wouldn't believe. I agree that you should make a call to back up your neighbours.