When you make the decision to invest in rental property and entrust it to tenants, you expect those tenants to behave responsibly. Once you hand over the keys, your rental property is in the hands of strangers, and you must maintain vigilance to ensure the protection of your property.

Criminals are increasingly turning to residential rental properties as locations to manufacture illegal drugs. Turning a blind eye to potential illegal activity could result in thousands of dollars of damage to your property as well as the possibility of fines and additional penalties. Read on to learn about the telltale signs that your investment property is a drug house.

1. Be wary of tenants who seem overly interested in the electrical supply when viewing the property. Unusual questions regarding the wiring may indicate plans to grow cannabis, which needs plenty of heat and light to thrive. Growers often attempt to tamper with electrical wiring to bypass the electric meter, preventing the detection of excessive electrical use.

2. Watch for excessive humidity in the rental unit. Marijuana grow-operations need a high level of moisture. Look for mildewed carpet, peeling paint, or condensation on the windows.

3. Watch out for tenants who want to pay their rent upfront in cash for the entire period of tenancy. Tenants intent on cultivating or manufacturing drugs want to minimize your presence in the building. Payment in cash also prevents you from learning details about their checking account, which could help trace them in the event their illegal activity comes to light.

4. Stay on the lookout for blacked-out windows and curtains that remain closed in the daytime. Tenants involved in drug production need privacy to conduct their illegal activities.

5. Pay attention to neighbors\’ reports of people coming and going from the house at all hours. This traffic pattern is typical of a methamphetamine lab or house, since meth addicts can stay up for days at a time and do not maintain regular hours for sleep and other normal activities.

6. Stay alert for strange odors that smell like cat urine, ammonia, ether or acetone. These smells are associated with meth production. Additionally, skunk-like odors could be indicative of a marijuana grow operation.

7. Take note of excessive trash, especially duct tape, drain cleaner, lantern fuel cans, and antifreeze containers. All are used in meth production.

8. Beware of chemistry equipment such as beakers, flasks and rubber tubing. Since the practice of chemistry as a hobby is quite rare, take the presence of such equipment seriously.

9. If you suspect drug activity, ask the neighbors if they see tenants taking cigarette breaks. Since ether, which is highly explosive, is used in meth production, tenants who manufacture this drug must go outside to smoke their cigarettes.

You should conduct a walk-around of the exterior of the rental property every four to five weeks. If you suspect drug activity, contact law enforcement immediately. Never confront the tenant yourself. A landlord\’s liability for drug activities varies by state, so take action whenever you suspect illegal activity on your rental property. You will want to terminate the tenancy as soon as possible to prevent lawsuits, destruction of property, and trouble with the law.Visit free-rental-property-investing-info.com for free landlord forms, tools, and no-hype educational info focusing solely on residential investment property. Browse topics like renting a property, landlord tenant laws, buying a property, how to sell property, and much more.

Visit http://www.free-rental-property-investing-info.com for free landlord forms, tools, and no-hype educational info focusing solely on residential investment property. Browse topics like renting a property, landlord tenant laws, buying a property, how to sell property, and much more.

Author Bio: Visit free-rental-property-investing-info.com for free landlord forms, tools, and no-hype educational info focusing solely on residential investment property. Browse topics like renting a property, landlord tenant laws, buying a property, how to sell property, and much more.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: investment property, rental property, real estate investing, landlord