Renters, homeowners still having trouble seeing eye-to-eye on pot almost a year into legalization

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – When it comes to marijuana, it seems renters, landlords and homeowners have different ideas about its benefits.

According to a new poll by Zoocasa, it appears renters and homeowners don’t quite see eye-to-eye almost a year after legalization.

The survey suggests while homeowners are worried about the impact of legal pot on their property values, tenants, not surprisingly, aren’t as concerned. In fact, a majority of renters polled say it’s not a problem.

While the percentage of homeowners who feel the same way is increasing, it’s still nowhere near the support of those who rent as both groups continue to find difficulties seeing each side through the haze.

When it comes to dispensaries, Zoocasa has found that 56 per cent of renters are OK with having a pot shop nearby — meantime, those who actually own the property say otherwise.

Only 36 per cent of homeowners agree, while 32 per cent of respondents who own property say they feel dispensaries would have a negative impact on nearby home values. The latter number, according to Zoocasa, is down from a year before, when 42 per cent believed it would impact their property value.

People growing their own pot is also a concern to homeowners, with the majority of landlords — 85 per cent — saying they prefer to not have a tenant with a particularly “green” thumb. Their main concern: related damage to property.

The same goes for consuming cannabis in the rental property. Landlords polled say they would prefer it not be smoked on the premises. In addition to all of this, more than half of rental property owners said they would consider charging higher rents to future tenants to cover potential damages.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018.