'Cannabis crooks dumped 10 tonnes of soil in my bedroom'

Charles Reeves was left in utter disbelief when he discovered 10 tonnes of soil dumped in his bedroom. The north London homeowner had rented out his property while he was working abroad, only to return and find it transformed into a cannabis farm. The criminals, posing as tenants, had used the house to grow over 400 cannabis plants, which the police later seized. The plants had an estimated street value of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The criminals had installed an elaborate setup, including fans, lights, and a ventilation system, to maintain optimal growing conditions. They had even rewired the electrical system to steal power for their operation. The damage to the property was extensive, with holes cut into the ceiling and walls to accommodate the equipment. The cost of repairs was estimated to exceed £20,000. Charles and his family were devastated. They had lived in the house for nearly 20 years and had many happy memories there. Charles's wife, Julia, said it was very emotional to see their home in such a state. The police told Charles that this was one of the worst cases of this kind of crime they had seen. Rental scams linked to cannabis farms are on the rise, with criminals exploiting the lengthy eviction process to complete their illegal operations. Experts say that the lack of regulation in the rental property sector makes it easier for fraudsters to operate. Estate agents are not required to have qualifications, which can leave homeowners vulnerable to scams. Charles hopes that by sharing his story, he can raise awareness of this growing problem and prevent other homeowners from falling victim to similar scams. He advises people to be very cautious when renting out their properties and to take every precaution to protect themselves. The emotional toll on the Reeves family has been immense. Charles said it felt like their home had been defiled. The damage and dirt were overwhelming. The family is trying to move on, but it is very difficult. They hope that by telling their story, they can help others avoid the same fate. If you have any information about this story, you can contact the BBC's investigation team.