Man found 'cannabis farm remains' in his new Sutton home
A Sutton man is trying to raise funds to help repair damage to his home after he discovered remains of a ‘cannabis farm’ in his loft.
Joe Edgson moved into his new home in October last year and he said he discovered significant loft and roof damage caused by a historic cannabis grow that was not identified before completion.
He said: “The damage includes mould contaminated roof felt, damaged insulation, and other associated issues.”
Mr Edgson said these issues were not identified following surveys carried out by Bellway Homes and Countrywide and he is now expected to repair the damage himself.
He said: “The repair work required includes the removal and replacement of mouldy roof felt and loft insulation.
“Replacing the roof felt requires removing and refitting the roof tiles, as well as scaffolding, making it a large and costly job.
“The total quoted cost for these essential works is £5,300.
“The mould has worsened my asthma, and the repairs are not optional, the damaged roof felt and insulation must be replaced to make the house safe to live in.”
Mr Edgson has now set up a GoFundMe fundraising page to help him raise the necessary funds.
If you would like to make a donation, visit https://gofund.me/3a06763c2.
Statement from Bellway Homes said: “The property in question is a second-hand home which Bellway had accepted in part exchange. It was not a new property and was not built by Bellway.
“The buyer purchased the property on the open market through an estate agent.
“Before Bellway bought the property, a survey was commissioned which included an inspection of the attic area and no issues related to the allegations being made were highlighted. The buyer commissioned his own survey and again no issues were found in relation to his complaint. He proceeded with the purchase on that basis.
“Second-hand homes are sold as seen, subject to any surveys the buyer chooses to arrange. We therefore do not consider these claims to have any validity.”
A spokesman for the HOA said: “It’s important to be clear about what a home survey can and can’t reasonably uncover.
“A Level 2 survey is a visual inspection designed to flag obvious defects that could affect the property’s condition or value — such as visible damp, mould, roof leaks, ventilation issues or signs of structural problems.
“It is not a forensic investigation and won’t diagnose hidden issues or past use of a property in depth.
“If the space where the cannabis was growing was accessible at the time of the inspection and there were visible signs of damp, mould, poor ventilation or damage consistent, those issues should normally be noted by the surveyor.
“Surveyors are trained to look for these kinds of problems and, where seen, to flag them for further investigation.
“However, surveys are visual only. If areas were inaccessible, boarded over, obstructed, or if damage had been concealed the surveyor may not have been able to see it.
“In cases involving illegal activity, it would not be surprising if previous owners had actively tried to cover up damage or remove evidence, which can make problems particularly difficult to detect during a standard inspection.
“If the homeowner believes the surveyor should reasonably have identified the issue, they can make a formal complaint.
“All RICS surveyors are required to have a complaints procedure and professional indemnity insurance, and compensation may be available if the survey fell below the expected standard.”
A Countrywide Surveying Services spokesman: “Following our second line review of the case, we are confident that the survey was carried out in accordance with the expected standards and scope of a Level 2 Survey.”