Aviva has reported a 30% year-on-year rise in claims resulting from residential cannabis farming and is warning landlords to be extra vigilant.
According to the insurer, there were 758,700 cannabis plants seized by the police in 2009/10, a rise of 18% on a year earlier.
Eighty-three per cent of seizures were for 50 plants or fewer and Aviva settled 92 cannabis-farming claims, the highest number since the group began collecting data in 2007.
The insurer’s underwriting manager, property owners, Matthew Gordon, comments: “Almost all of the properties were residential and we often find that it is part of a larger operation or that the policyholder has had a couple of properties affected.”
He adds: “Cannabis farming comes with serious risks for landlords; properties can be completely ruined inside to make space for plants, water damage can occur and fire poses a risk due to interference with electrics or strong lighting left on for a long time.”
The cannabis farming tenant will often line walls, ceilings and doors with plastic or polythene, and windows will normally have blinds or curtains closed to obscure any activity.
T
Read more…
Tags: Cannabis Farming, Farming, Residential Cannabis, Residential Cannabis Farming
Recent Comments