Looking for a New Home?

It Can Happen Here...One family's close call
Legal Notes for Buyers/Renters What you can - and can't - expect
With Your Eyes Wide Open... Things to watch for when you're looking over a potential new home
Hooking into the Neighborhood Connection Your potential new neighbors may have a lot of info for you

Former Tenants Leave Behind Unwanted Surprise

While moving into a new home can be hectic, it pays to be cautious.  A woman in Rapid City, South Dakota, was preparing to move her family into a new apartment.  As part of her plan, she was wiping down the kitchen cupboards when she noticed something stuffed into the back of an upper cabinet.  She pulled out a light bulb and a folded-over piece of aluminum foil (a ‘foily’).  She recognized both objects as Meth-use paraphernalia and quickly set the items aside.  The family includes two small children, and the mother was quite concerned about possible Meth-use residue affecting them if they moved in.  She called her landlord and MAPP-SD for information and advice.  Fortunately, the landlord had a similar apartment available and the family jumped at the chance to change their living arrangement.  But the experience proved to be an eye-opener, because “I just never expected something like this to happen to me and my family,” the woman shared. The property manager, too, was surprised, but said they and the owner consider this a “learning opportunity” and are doing what they can to protect future tenants.

The woman used her cell phone to snap these pictures and offered to share them with us. 

Legal Notes

If you are planning to move into a new home, duplex or apartment, there are steps you can take to help ensure your family’s safety.

If you are buying a home:
South Dakota law requires realtors/sellers to disclose any knowledge of the existence of Meth manufacturing in residential premises.  Before a sale, a buyer will be given a formal disclosure document noting whether or not the property was known to be a Meth lab.  Current law does not require disclosure concerning Meth use, however.  A buyer may want to consider making the purchase contingent on a satisfactory home inspection, including testing for the presence of Meth residue.

If you are renting a home/duplex/apartment:
South Dakota does not have a current law requiring landlords to disclose any Meth activity.  Your landlord might provide Meth testing in the lease or rental agreement.

What to Look For

When you go looking at new places to live, be aware of telltale Meth manufacturing signs both inside and outside of the residence. 
Signs of Meth manufacturing inside:

• Dark stains in bathtubs, sinks, and toilets

• Discolored surfaces (red, orange, reddish brown)

• Stains on walls or carpets

• Signs of chemical or acid burns or spills on floors or counters

• Empty packages/containers of chemicals or cold medicine

• Hoses, glass cookware with powdery residue, containers with plastic tubing attached, coffee filters with red or white stains, hot plates, propane tanks with bright blue brass fittings

Signs of Meth manufacturing outside:
Many times, waste material from a Meth lab is dumped outdoors, causing irreparable damage to the environment and drinking water. Outdoor Meth lab contamination results from the dumping or burning of waste on or near soil, surface water, groundwater, and sewer or septic systems.  Signs of Meth lab activity outside include:

• Burn piles
• Dead or dying vegetation
• Buried trash piles.

What the Neighbors Might Know

Besides doing a visual inspection in and around a property, it is also a good idea to ask your potential neighbors some questions. 
     ? Did you ever notice any strong smells like cat urine or unusual chemical smells like ether, ammonia or acetone?
     ? Did you notice strange traffic patterns like few or no visitors during the day, but lots of traffic at extremely late hours?
     ? Did visitors stay for just a few minutes?
     ? Were there efforts made to cover windows or reinforce doors, or other unusual security measures?
     ? Did you notice whether the former occupants put their trash out normally?
     ? Did you ever see what looked like laboratory materials around the property?
     ? Were there ever vehicles loaded with trunks, chemical containers or basic chemistry paraphernalia?