20 | winter 2018 cmba-achc.ca CMB MAGAZINE
P
icture a happy family, excitedly buying
a new home. e deal is done, the
paperwork is signed and everything
seems ready for moving day.
en, the family discovers that their dream
home was previously used to produce drugs,
and now they are having trouble qualifying for
a mortgage.
is is just one scenario currently happening
in Canada, and it is due – at least in part – to
the lack of clear standards for remediating and
certifying properties aer they have been used
for drug production.
ere are several potential property
impacts to these homes, including mould,
electrical fires and harmful effects of chemicals
used on the premises. ese can affect the
health and well-being of those who live or
work in these buildings. Home invasion is also
a potential threat, as criminals or previous
customers may come looking for drugs even
aer production has ended.
In British Columbia, there are currently
no provincial regulations for how a property
should be remediated aer it has been used
to produce drugs. is means there are no
consistent standards for what constitutes a
safe, successful remediation, or for who is
qualified to perform these services. Moreover,
REALTORS®, mortgage brokers, insurance
agents and potential homebuyers may not
have access to the property's history.
By implementing consistent provincial
government standards, all parties involved in
a real estate transaction would have clarity as
to their roles and responsibilities, and buyers
would likely find it easier to secure mortgages
and home insurance.
A clear pathway to successful remediation
would also reduce the current incentive that
drug producers have to not disclose their
property's history, which can lead to health
impacts for future residents in addition to
financing concerns. Standards would also
help reduce the stigma that is oen associated
with these properties, and could increase
the housing supply by ensuring more quality
homes are on the market.
e British Columbia Real Estate
Association (BCREA) and many other
British Columbia still lacks clear standards for disclosing and remediating properties
previously used to produce drugs, leaving buyers and sellers in a precarious position
By Halena Seiferling, Policy analySt, BritiSH columBia real eState aSSociation;
norma miller, acting Director of communicationS anD PuBlic affairS, BritiSH
columBia real eState aSSociation
Drug Labs
REHABBING
