New life, new crib...new grow?

[SmokinErb]

Okay guys. First post, not my first time growing. Let's see how this goes. I'll probably catch some flak for this post but, here goes:

My friend (and his fiance) and I are signing a lease to a 3 bedroom duplex. Yes, I realize that rentals are a bit more risky. But there are precautions that can be taken, and I intend to take every single one of them.

My friend wants to learn to grow. I've gotten about 10 successful harvests under my belt, only 3 of them are indoor, but regardless I feel qualified enough to help him get started. I believe that he is trustworthy, and I've already made is VERY clear that if I even SUSPECT that he's mentioned the grow to someone else, I'm pulling the plug. I truly believe he's every bit as serious about security as I am, this is the ONLY reason I'm willing to grow with another person.

Anyway, let's get to it. The extra bedroom is approximately 8'x8'. There is one window in the room. Now the decision that I am trying to make is this:

Do we go balls out and basically use the whole room?

Do we stuff some grow tents/cabs in the room instead?

Or do we just stick to closets?

Personally, I'm leaning towards the tents/cabs. I think that's far more realistic, and it wouldn't be hard to build a large cab or three that looks like an armoire. But I'd like to hear some feedback. I know the whole room would be easier to ventilate (keep cool) than a cab with HID lighting in it. However, as we're signing a lease and don't own the place, modifcations to run the ventilation to the attic or whatever just aren't going to happen.

I was thinking of purchasing grow tents and some old junk photography shit and throw all of that in the extra bedroom and just claim to be a photography enthusiast. The grow tents could easily be dark rooms for photo development....

But like I said. Feedback?

 

[~fvk~]

If there's the possibility of ever having to be in the situation of where you'll have to explain yourself, then yeah, tents are probably the best idea. If you don't have anywhere else to veg at you should definitely use separate tents so you can keep your harvest perpetual. I'm not too keen on what kind of tents are on the market but I'm pretty sure they make them in 2x4-3x3, so I'd probably just buy like 4 and use two on one side of the room to veg in and throw a 600 or an 1000 in the other two. This is considering the amount of room you have to work with. You could increase productivity in flower by using a flip relay and also save on the amount of ballasts you have to buy.

Now if you have a room that you can veg in, you could definitely crank out some decent harvests. Growing with friends is risky man, keep your friend in check and be safe.

 

[Shcrews]

step 1. put a 12,000btu AC in that window
step 2. see this, and this to learn how to use your 8x8 room to get 7+ lbs
step 3. go balls out
step 4. if landlord ever wants to inspect, just lock the room and say that roommate is out of town.

 

[MeanBean]

you gotta make sure you aint using way more electric than the last guy living there! I think that will be your limiting factor. I mean it is a rental so you can't set off a single alarm! If the cops go to your landlord with a suspition he/she might just let them in your crib! Or they may make an excuse to come in.

you can't move into a place and crank out 100000 volts a second! if the bill was like 200 before you moved in I wouldent push it more than like 300- 350!

I like the tents idea to, becasue in the situation where the plants need to be gone you can move them and there habitat. "Like into the back of a uhaul for a few days"

 

[Shcrews]

^^^i don't think his landlord receives his electric bill... otherwise it would be a definite no-go

electric usage is no problem as long as you are paying your bill... millions of people run 4 or 5 computers at once and use the same amount of power as a decent-sized grow op. A small space-heater uses more energy than two 600w lights. think about that.

besides the electric companies like the business

 

[MeanBean]

I't just somtething to consider that's all! You have to admit sometimes in a rental you don't always get to be the one explaining!

Plus they have the right to go in there at anytime. Not that I don't grow in my apt for now !! But i would be buggin if like all they had to do is open a door an see my shit!

At least you can hide tents in a corner n stack some boxes around them!!

 

[Rysam]

you gotta make sure you aint using way more electric than the last guy living there! I think that will be your limiting factor. I mean it is a rental so you can't set off a single alarm! If the cops go to your landlord with a suspition he/she might just let them in your crib! Or they may make an excuse to come in.

you can't move into a place and crank out 100000 volts a second! if the bill was like 200 before you moved in I wouldent push it more than like 300- 350!

SPOBI

the power company doesnt give a shit how much power you use as long as they get their $$ on time, your landlord too, im sure he dont give a fawk how much $$ you're using. everything is computer controlled,no one sees your power usage but you.
i speak from CA,NV and MI experience. I run several thousand watts with my aquariums alone and never have had anyone knocking. ever. even with a large coral propagation room.(cloning corals)

plus you can always blame using a welder/gaming computer/space heater, i mean cmon really? lots of things besides growing weed use lots of power.


loose lips and stupidity will foul up your plans, not the meter maid.

I't just somtething to consider that's all! You have to admit sometimes in a rental you don't always get to be the one explaining!

Plus they have the right to go in there at anytime. Not that I don't grow in my apt for now !! But i would be buggin if like all they had to do is open a door an see my shit!

At least you can hide tents in a corner n stack some boxes around them!!

it is 100% illegal for a landlord to enter your home without permission. renters have way more rights than even homeowners.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...ssionid=FCAECD9DC1D303050D2F57F1FB66EF57.jvm1
When may a landlord enter rental property? Is advance notice required?

Landlords can enter rented premises only in the following circumstances:

to make needed repairs (or in some states, just to determine whether repairs are necessary)
in cases of emergency, or
to show the property to prospective new tenants or purchasers.
Several states also allow landlords or property managers the right of entry during a tenant's extended absence (often defined as seven days or more) to maintain the property as necessary and to inspect for damage and needed repairs. In most cases, a landlord may not enter just to check up on the tenant and the rental property.

States that regulate landlords' access require landlords to provide advance notice (usually 24 hours) before entering a rental unit. (See Nolo's Chart: Notice Requirements to Enter Rental Property, State by State.) In most states, without advance notice, a landlord or manager may enter rented premises while a tenant is living there only in an emergency -- such as a fire or serious water leak -- or when the tenant gives permission.


AND MORE....
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108370

15 common renters' rights
Although renters' rights vary by region, many are pretty predictable. Here's a sample of rights likely to be addressed in your state's landlord-tenant law:

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to deny housing to a tenant on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, disability, family status, or national origin.
Residential rental units should be habitable and in compliance with housing and health codes—meaning they should be structurally safe, sanitary, weatherproofed, and include adequate water, electricity, and heat.
Many states limit the amount landlords can charge for security deposits. (See this page on Nolo.com to find out if yours is one of them.)
A landlord should make necessary repairs and perform maintenance tasks in a timely fashion, or include a provision in the lease stating that tenants can order repairs and deduct the cost from rent.
A landlord must give prior notice (typically 24 hours) before entering your premises and can normally only do so to make repairs or in case of an emergency.
Illegal provisions in a rental agreement (provisions counter to state law) are usually not enforceable in court.
If a landlord has violated important terms related to health, safety, or necessary repairs, you might have a legal right to break your lease.
If you have to break a long-term lease, in most states landlords are required to search for a new tenant as soon as possible rather than charging the tenant for the full duration of the lease.
Damage or security deposits are not deductible for "normal wear and tear." Some states require that a landlord give an itemized report of any deductions.
Most states require landlords to return refundable portions of a security deposit within 14 to 30 days after the tenant has vacated the premises, even in the case of eviction.
Landlords usually can't legally seize a tenant's property for nonpayment of rent or any other reason, except in the case of abandonment as defined by law.
Landlords are legally prohibited from evicting tenants as retaliation for action a tenant takes related to a perceived landlord violation.
A landlord cannot legally change the locks, shut off (or cause to have shut off) your utilities, or evict you without notice; eviction requires a court order.
If a landlord makes life so miserable for you that it forces you to move, it may be considered "constructive eviction," which is usually grounds for legal action.
In many states, it's illegal for a lease to stipulate that the tenant is responsible for the landlord's attorney fees in case of a court dispute.
Protect yourself
Before you move in, tour the premises with your landlord, and note -- or better yet, photograph -- any existing damage. When you move out, if your landlord withholds part of your damage deposit, ask for an itemized list of charges and the reason for the charges. If there's a discrepancy between this list and the one you made before moving in, let the landlord know immediately. Keep copies of all correspondence with your landlord, as well as dated records of phone and in-person conversations.

AND FINALLY:
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=155813

 

[SmokinErb]

Hey guys? You just got a new reg.

I was so sick of catching lecture after lecture about the stupidity of growing in a rental....with a roommate. I made other threads on other forums and it was just page after page of bullshit, with a few good posts here and there.

I'd like to point out that I'm not tripping about power consumption at all. I'm well aware that's not how you get busted (unless you're running like 10x 1000w HPS or something).

Loose lips. That is my primary concern, and I truely belive that my roommate will keep his sealed. He's the ONLY person I've trusted with that, and I've had a lot of offers.

fvk- Okay, I've looked a lot into grow tents, they come in all sorts of sizes, hell I could find one that'll fit almost every inch of the room. I planned on using the actual room for flower and veg in the closet. The closet is rather small, but I don't veg out long. I tend to go SOG style for the fastest possible harvest.

meanbean- As I mentioned, I'm not too worried about electrical consumption. This is a rather large place and I can see it easily consuming quite a bit more than we'll actually be using. Plus electric isn't included with the rent (I've grown in an all-utilities-included apartment too). They can't just come in at anytime, I actually request a 48 or 72 hour notice before any repairs/inspections are done for the simple fact that we work, and I'd like to have someone there while anything was being done. That's understandable.

rysam I love you. Basically what I'm here for is reassurance that it's relatively safe to grow in a rental AS LONG AS CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN. I've done it before. Will do it again. But I've been to prison before. And I DO NOT want to go back. All those other forums were just making me want to not do it.

schrews Thanks for pointing everything the direction I wanted it to go.

Okay while we're at it.... anyone have some strain suggestions? I plant on putting some autoflowers in my veg closet, but I need rather quick flowering strains, so Indica dom. plants obviously. I'm almost positive I want to grow Mazar, but more than one strain is always nice. Input?

 

[SmokinErb]

I just saw that link rysam posted @ the very end. I'm bookmarking that and adding that to my sig when I get around to making my profile.

Yeah, I meant it when I said you guys had a new reg. I love making grow journals and being able to help another grower out. GC was overtaken by a bunch of kids who just talk shit.

 

[Rysam]

rysam I love you. But I've been to prison before.

um yeah homey... i've done time too but um uh.....not that much time...

J/k good luck! and BTW, Im a renter too.
(thanks for the new sig.)

 

[Marijuanasaur]

Those landlord rules don't mean shit, lol. It helps, but it doesn't make you safe. If you do it, hopefully paranoia wont get a hold of you. Especially since you seem to think that pulling high wattages wont make you more susceptible to getting caught.

Most landlords know about grows. They offer affordable living that requires no real financial background, so any yahoo can move in.


but if you think its safe, good luck.

 

[Rysam]

Obviously for your own good you need to know the LAW where you are at. I cant think of a state off the top of my head that doesnt have a LAW to PROTECT TENANTS. If you fuck up and get busted then you're screwed but until then there are LAWS that landlords/property managers have to follow. If you give up these rights off the bat then thats your fault.
be safe,be smart and dont get sloppy or greedy.

heres the LAW in california. I live here and can't speak for other states.
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml

 

[Deaner]

First of all, what is your budget? If you're looking to go big I would suggest one large grow tent (maybe 8x4 or something comparable). Then get a smaller tent for veg. You'll never several lights for the large tent, and maybe a 400-600 watt light for the veg tent. Atleast a couple fans and scrubbers. Exhaust out the window.

Keep the door locked because if you're in a position where you're explaining the tents, you're already in trouble. Just tell people that the room doesn't come with the house and the landlord has rights to it or something. It's actually more common than you would think in rented areas, esp converted houses. Good luck, and stay safe!

 

[Deaner]

Those landlord rules don't mean shit, lol. It helps, but it doesn't make you safe. If you do it, hopefully paranoia wont get a hold of you. Especially since you seem to think that pulling high wattages wont make you more susceptible to getting caught.

I'm going to agree with this. Any emergency will allow the landlord rights to enter. Anything can happen.. pipe bursts, small fire, flood, etc.

 

[ThePizzaMan]

I think growing in a duplex with your buddy and his wife is a huge security risk.

Are your buddy and his wife ready to give up their social lives?

Your buddy is one thing, but women are flaky man.



I wouldn't do it. I live by myself, and made the mistake of telling a girl one time. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

 

[Shcrews]

Your buddy is one thing, but women are flaky man.



I wouldn't do it. I live by myself, and made the mistake of telling a girl one time. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

hahaha my girlfriend said "fuckin loser"...

anyway, if you set up your room correctly, you can have people over at your place and they won't even know. I didn't know for years that my neighbor was growing, and i was in his house all the damn time

 

[NEARTHEBEACHBOY]

If it was me teaching my friend to grow and added the landlord bullshit.i would get a couple of dressers and do a small grow.there stealth and you can still teach your friend with out going ball's to the wall's for his first grow.

 

[SmokinErb]

Well damn, looks like things are being postponed a little bit. We decided it'd probably be better to wait until March to move in. First of all, we started looking for a place this week. We also started saving money this week.

Meh, the landlord is willing to split the deposit into 3 monthly payments, and while we CAN (just barely) move in by February, it's really stretching all of us thin. So March it is. Gives me more time to plan stuff out too.

 

[SmokinErb]

Oh and I'd like to point out that neither of them have much of a social life anymore. Plus the living area is downstairs, everything will be done upstairs which nobody has any good reason for going up there. EVERYTHING is downstairs.

 

[dwarfganja]

Male or Female We say "two's company; three's a crowd" because sometimes two people are having fun together and would not have as much fun if a third person joined them. Sounds like 1 to many....just my thoughts.