New analysis by landlord insurer Direct Line for Business has revealed West Midlands Police seized more than 54,700 plants in 2014/2015. The research, which looked at the number of seizures of cannabis plants by police forces across England and Wales, revealed that there was an average of 150 plants seized every day last year in the county, overtaking London as the nation’s cannabis capital. Indeed, the number of seizures in the West Midlands increased by 5% year-on-year, up from 52,218 over 2013/2014.

The insurance firm warns that landlords should be wary of who they are renting to as cannabis farms can cause significant damage to properties for which they may not be aware or insured for. The landlord insurer has seen claims for ceilings and walls knocked through, severe water damage and fires due to this criminal activity. In addition to the financial costs, landlords could also face legal action themselves if it is proved that they were aware of criminal activities or have received money or proceeds from illegal drug activity.

Nick Breton, head of Direct Line for Business said: “For landlords, engaging in a tenancy agreement with a tenant always requires a certain amount of trust that they will not cause significant damage to the property. However, as this analysis shows, cannabis farming is still a big problem in England and Wales and can have severe repercussions for landlords.”