Never permit your housemates to take drugs.
You would think this too obvious to state – not everyone realises as you will see!
Why state the obvious? In 25 years of renting houses, as you might expect there have been some funny and not so funny experiences.
We know of at least one incident involving a police raid and at least one other police visit to two separate houses.
Before benignly turning a blind eye to a housemates addictions or private, ‘non-of-your-affair’, social habits, you might be more motivated by the likely consequences for you.
A group of housemates were sitting watching television one evening. All but one housemate was present. None took illegal drugs, but they knew their absent housemate did – but that was his affair – wasn’t it? As he arrived at their shared house they heard the entrance door close before his footsteps disappeared upstairs as many times before. No one gave it a second thought. The television occupied their attention. Had the housemates any inkling of what was about to happen they would certainly not have chosen him as a housemate. But, it was just a few puffs, nothing serious really, so what did it matter?
Nearby, ensconced undetected around the corner, a police van lurked awaiting the drug taker’s arrival. Inside the vehicle a veritable army of helmet and visor-clad truncheon wielding riot police officers were poised to descend upon the housemates, disturbing their nonchalant world.
The police had reason to believe that the housemate who had just arrived had illegal drugs on his possession. It would have made no difference even if the drug taker was just a visitor, the consequence would be the same. The venue is all that mattered; the house concealed illegal drugs.
Hitherto, had the tenants countenanced the consequences, they could be forgiven for exclaiming, I am innocent! Unfortunately this is not merely innocence but also naive. Complicity has consequences. Within seconds, just like a police television drama, the front door was knocked in without keys, permission or warning. Inside, the unsuspecting tenants remained seated (if not frozen to the spot) in front of the TV – but no one was watching the TV now! A live performance of a real police drama was being enacted before them in their lounge but the tenants were the characters. Suddenly, drugs had their undivided attention. It mattered not whether anyone was adding the finishing touches to an assignment, having a shower, or sat on the toilet! The police entered without regard to dignity or timing A loud terrifying shout bellowed, “police – stay where you are!” and everyone froze with chilling petrifaction. The police quickly entered every room whether or not locked. Any toilets were instantly accessed – preventing drugs evidence being flushed away. Each person was courteously subjected to a naked body search – by a same sex officer. “I have never been so embarrassed in all my life” protested one. “The most terrifying experience of my life” quivered another”.
So think again before you turn a benign eye to your housemates’ drug taking?
Alternatively if you take drugs, do you still think it is acceptable to potentially subject your housemates to such humiliation and terror? What is more, if illegal drugs are found, any entry damage is the responsibility of the tenants – not the police. Joint tenants become vicariously responsible for their housemates acts.
On another occasion one tenant’s drug habit escalated. The drug addiction became progressively more expensive. However, his addition was not limited by his income; only by how quickly he could convert your possessions into dough for dope.
Once out of control the addict stole to fund his habit at his house-mates expense. Their possessions merely funded his next fix.
Do you still think your drug taking housemate will not affect you?
One musician had a valuable and treasured instrument stolen when her housemate broke into her locked room, yes her own housemate!
You might have sat on a settee when say your keys slipped out of your pocket down the side of the settee. Blindly fumbling down the side to retrieve them you might experience a painful prick to your fingertip – a heroin needle left in the folds of the settee by your addicted housemate or friends following ‘jacking up’. Is the needle now impaled in your finger tip infected? Do you still think your housemate’s drug habit is only their affair? Your house-mates visitor friends can also impact upon you! If their dealers come calling following non-payment beware!
Nick – a homeless drug addict once said “people lacking understanding often say to me it’s your own fault; you shouldn’t have started taking drugs”. To which Nick would helplessly reply, “It might have been my decision to start taking drugs, but once addicted, all my decisions are now made for me by the craving to satisfy my addiction”.
So the moral here is say no to drug taking friends when they offer to share a house or drugs with you. And if you are considering experimenting with drugs, think of Nick whilst you still have a choice.