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This one's a grower: former cannabis farm in Finchley pops up on RightMove
The flat, which is eight minutes' walk from a shul, comes with a vent system and cannabis leaves
March 3, 2023 19:13
The flat, which is eight minutes' walk from a shul, comes with a vent system and cannabis leaves
March 3, 2023 19:13Flat hunters in Finchley are buzzing about the latest property to hit the market. The apartment in Ballard’s Lane, which is eight minutes' walk from a synagogue, comes "highly" recommended, with two bedrooms and planning permission to develop the loft space - as well as all the equipment needed to run your own cannabis farm.
A walk-through video on the property website RightMove clearly shows the remains of a cannabis farm strewn throughout the flat on Ballard’s Lane, including plant pots full of soil and even cannabis leaves on the floors.
Situated above a hairdresser and a jeweller's shop, its internal walls are shown in the agent’s photographs to be lined with enough reflective foil to kosher a kitchen for Passover – in this case to help contain the heat needed to grow marijuana plants.
Pipes, wires and ducting are suspended from the ceilings and pass through the internal walls, providing the required watering and heating facilities to optimise the crop. Electric fans are also strategically positioned on the walls to prevent the smell of the illegal drug from reaching the neighbours.
Potential buyers looking for a more spiritual high would benefit from the flat’s location in Northwest London, just an eight-minute walk from Finchley Federation Synagogue. A plethora of kosher joints nearby will also be attractive to Jewish bidders at the auction.
A representative from Auction House London told the JC he did not believe the cannabis growing equipment had been cleared from the flat and confirmed that it had indeed “previously been used as a cannabis farm”, noting “there is interest on that perspective, but it is priced quite effectively for the area, so there has been decent interest.
"A client of ours decided an auction was the best way to dispose of the property. As long as the price is right, people will buy it.”
Despite its illegal previous use, the flat presents a potent opportunity for a would-be developer, or could be a great first home for joint first-time buyers looking to flat-share.
The flat will be for sale by public auction on March 15. The guide price is listed at £275k, but bids at the auction may reach £420k or higher.