$479,500 Fine for pot grow house

[Pratik P.]

So I went on an appointment to look at a house today where the owner had rented the property to his daughter, who then allowed her boyfriend to turn the property into a pot grow house. 

I was absolutely floored to find out that the city was fining the owner $479,500 for something he had nothing to do with. The ARV is around $310,000 and needs a lot of work. How exactly does the city get away with doing this? This is extortion!!

Anyone heard of something this absurd? 

[Stephen Shelton]

It's a good thing the tenants didn't murder someone otherwise he'd be facing a life in prison. 😌

It's almost like the government is looking for a way to raise revenue by fining what they believe to be the party with deep pockets instead of going after the people who actually broke the law. Unless the governmentcan prove in court that a landlord actively knows criminal activity is occurring they need to STFU.

I know what goes on in my properties to the extent that no one ever truly knows another person. I'd certainly see 479 marijuana plants in mine, but I shouldn't have to. My philosophy as a landlord is that the property is effectively the tenants' property while they are paying me to use it. If they are breaking the law then that should be on them, of course this is California where entrepreneurship is basically illegal and I shouldn't opine further on that, but a landlord should not be a babysitter. Tenants are adults for crying out loud.

Heck, if I grow marijuana in my own house does my landlord, THE COUNTY,  get held responsible? Property tax confirms that a private individual does not own the property so why aren't the elected leaders in the county held to the same standard as the person who "owns" this house?