Few questions about HMO's

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

elsien said:

Just for info, cannabis factories don’t always smell. There was a huge one at the end of my road, with no sign at all from outside. 

But wouldn't they cover at least one window in there? These people don't turn up all that often either, just periodically, like for 5 days in a row and then nothing. I had just put it down to the random weirdness of living in a pandemic. It is the key safe that puzzles me, it seems risky to leave it there and let people wander about unsupervised, etc.

I once experienced a busted drug farm where I used to live. The house was surrounded by police, taped off, and a large white worm-like tube was inserted through one of the windows. No idea what that was but the whole street was out in awe and excitement

hazyjo

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

elsien said:

Just for info, cannabis factories don’t always smell. There was a huge one at the end of my road, with no sign at all from outside. 

But wouldn't they cover at least one window in there? These people don't turn up all that often either, just periodically, like for 5 days in a row and then nothing. I had just put it down to the random weirdness of living in a pandemic. It is the key safe that puzzles me, it seems risky to leave it there and let people wander about unsupervised, etc.

It's often in the loft. Thermal camera or helicopter looking for things like that might pick it up.

I'd be very surprised if a landlord or agency would be allowing tenants to view unaccompanied.

Mojisola

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

Nobody is losing any sleep over this
I would say it isn't a 'drug farm' as no lights or smell. And why would someone pay 90k for a house just to do that? 

Because they could be making huge amounts from the drugs which would make the cost of the property look like pennies?

I would report it if I thought there was one next door just because of the fire risk.

Mojisola

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

These people don't turn up all that often either, just periodically, like for 5 days in a row and then nothing.

The farms are often tended by people who are virtually slaves (and would never be seen outside) and are just checked on by enforcers.

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

christ this is getting dark!

I don't think it will get reported (I don't live there, it is my family member who does). He won't report it in case a horses head turns up on his bed;)
He plans to sell and leave in next couple of years, so.....must admit I thought this was a fun curio but now concerned!

Agree with hazyjo that the unaccompanied 'viewings' are the most odd thing, in my opinion.

martindow

Mojisola said:

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

These people don't turn up all that often either, just periodically, like for 5 days in a row and then nothing.

The farms are often tended by people who are virtually slaves (and would never be seen outside) and are just checked on by enforcers.

I agree and this is backed up by the comment that they have heard someone there with no lights on.  I would report this as possible modern slavery as I would not like to think I had done nothing if this turned out to be true months down the line.

https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/

If you are wrong and it is not modern slavery, a quick check by the police would establish this.

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

Hi again!
Slightly uninteresting update: one of the young lads and a friend arrived there again this afternoon and they repaired an internal door. Didnt take long. Again, both well dressed and polite. Didnt look like contracted workers.
As far as I am concerned these are all tenants awaiting a move into HMO. I can't think of another reason why over 5 guys of same age range and accent would all keep turning up there in the space of a few days. 
It isn't furnished, so I can't see why they keep going in for minutes at a time, but the drug thing just doesn't fit, to me.

I am only puzzled by the riskiness of using a key safe, and that a few weeks ago a Spanish family declared they'd been 'given' the house. Perhaps their contract fell through.
What makes it more puzzling is that we saw the lads visiting there briefly long before the Spanish family viewed it, so this doesn't explain why potential HMO tenants have been visiting it if it was on offer to the others...

A brain teaser, but I will bet it's just some bizarre HMO related something or other. Will update if anything interesting happens. I was enjoying playing detective so a bit let down by the mundanity

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

martindow said:

Mojisola said:

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

These people don't turn up all that often either, just periodically, like for 5 days in a row and then nothing.

The farms are often tended by people who are virtually slaves (and would never be seen outside) and are just checked on by enforcers.

I agree and this is backed up by the comment that they have heard someone there with no lights on.  I would report this as possible modern slavery as I would not like to think I had done nothing if this turned out to be true months down the line.

https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/

If you are wrong and it is not modern slavery, a quick check by the police would establish this.

Thanks for that, how horrible. I will have a look.

Marvel1

hazyjo said:

Blimey, do you live in your front garden? I couldn't tell you who turned up next door in the last year lol.

Could they be builders? Looking to split it into flats? Bulldoze it maybe? Airbnb? !!!!!! shoots? Drug deals? Cannabis growing in the loft? Who knows! Keep us informed Inspector 😁

Like to point out, not every house/street has a front garden, open front door straight on pavement.
Where my TV is, by the window, my direction sees outside the street.

silvercar

Could it simply be students choosing their accommodation for next year? Covid rules would require them to view seperately as they aren't currently in the same household.