RENTED homes are still being used as cannabis factories by their tenants in Waltham Forest.

The number of recent cases has rung alarms for estate agents and landlords who need to be aware of this potential crime.

Around 300 marijuana plants were discovered in a house in Billet Road, Walthamstow, when police raided the property early this month, and around five men were seen escaping through the back door and first-floor bathroom window.

A house in Melford Road, Leytonstone, was found filled with cannabis plants cultivated under heat lamps running on an illegal supply of electricity. Two men were arrested and charged with cannabis cultivation and abstracting electricity.

The serious misuse of rented properties raises the question for estate agents: What precautions are in place?

Andrew Lipski of the Walthamstow branch of Churchill Estates in Church Hill, Walthamstow, said: "We have never come across that problem ourselves, but we are very fussy about whom we will accept.

"Some landlords and tenants don't take as much care, and a lot of landlords do not really care about people not having references because they are just interested in how much money they can get for the house."

Adrian Cohen of Wonderlease Estate Agent in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, said: "We take out references and credit checks on tenants and make sure they are on the electoral role.

"We check the references as well to make sure they are bona fide, but not all estate agents are of the same standard."

A four-bedroom house in Chingford suffered £30,000 worth of damage when it was used as a cannabis factory. The tenants drilled holes in the floor and ceiling and destroyed the electrical system with the powerful lights needed to grow the plants.

The owner had spent several thousand pounds and three years renovating the property before she rented it out.

An agent from Property Empire Estates, who had collected the rent, said: "I feel bad because she has lost out on rent and has to repair the property. It is bad luck because she did not know the tenant was going to play these games.

"We check references but what else can you do? We have been in the business for four years and we have never had a problem before."