The police has warned landlords to beware of tenants wanting to use properties as cannabis farms.

The warning comes after police officers seized more than 160 cannabis plants at a property in Mansfield. The illegal drug was being grown in multiple rooms in the house and in the loft space.

Aljon Kacaj, aged 33, was found at the scene and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis. He claimed merely to be watering the plants on behalf on an unidentified middleman who offered him money and a place to live.

Kacaj has now been jailed for 20 months but the threat to landlords from this problem is clear.

Extensive damage was caused to the rented semi-detached property, which also had its electrical supply diverted to disguise the very large amount of power being used.

Sergeant Neil Priestley, of Nottinghamshire Police, says: “This was a large and sophisticated operation that will have cost a considerable amount of money to set up. It has also caused a very large amount of damage to the internal structure of the property which the owner will now have to rectify at their own expense.

“For that reason, I urge residential landlords to think very carefully about who they let their properties to and to ensure that all relevant background checks are completed.

“People should also be wary of red flags like people offering to pay a large amount of rent up front or in cash, because the cost of falling victim to this kind of criminality far outweighs any short-term financial gain.

“Local residents also have a significant role to play in combating this kind of offending, by letting us know in confidence about any concerns they may have.

“As our officers did in this case, we’ll then work to develop that intelligence and secure a warrant to enforce on the address.”