Grow Ops Remediation

Former grow-ops are full of chemicals and mold, which is caused by the humidity in grow-ops which can often be quite severe. Exposure to mold can increase eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, and phlegm buildup, wheezing and shortness of breath, and allergic reactions.

Mold that results from former grow-ops can cause structural damage to the construction of the home. Many former grow-ops that have been busted, have simply been left abandoned and un-remediated, sometimes upwards of two years. The city of Calgary had now created a Safety Response Team to deal with this growing concern. Recently, the team has mailed out information packages to former grow-op homeowners encouraging them to have the home remediated. If they do not comply, they could face Safety Codes Act and Municipal Government Act orders. If the property is structurally unsound or proving a real problem to the community, it could even be demolished.

When you are looking to purchase a new home, you should always consider whether it was a previous grow-op home. According to the buyer’s guide for the Calgary market, there are between 25-30 former grow-op homes on the market at any given time. With an estimated 3000 grow-ops active in the city, 120-140 being raided each year, there is no doubt that the number of grow ops entering the market will increase. This means that as a home buyer you need to be aware of the condition of your home before you purchase it.