How risky is growing in the attic in Ireland/UK?

Hi Folks, long time no see.

I have a tent 120x60x150cm and i've been happily using it for the last years in Dublin, up in the attic, using led lights (Mars Hydro), temperature from 20 to 38 celsius depending by the season, the vent releases the air directly within the attic, which being not perfectly insulated helps the air flow... obviously i've a carbon filter

I had no issues at all but every time an helicopter was passing on my house I got full of anxiety, what if they catch me? my life would be ruined, I'd lose my job and so on...

Now i'm moving to the country side, big detached house, not fully isolated, i've neighbour beside and in front of me and I'm going to move my setup, same as before, still in the attic and i'd expect more or less same temperature.

I've been reading around and i got many positive comments about how to grow in the attic with led lights (low temp) and relatively small green house is super safe for a number of reasons, but I need to find a way to calm myself about this, and stop getting worried, i don't sell, never did, and what i produce is for personal use and the product never get out from my house, so my only fear are helicopters with some kind of temp or any type of scan...

Do you think is there any way they can catch such a small setup flying on the house? How do you think is risky is something like this in Ireland/UK?

Sorry if my question sound silly but i'm obviously looking for feedback and comments, that hopefully will help my anxiety and allow to grow in the attic peacefully and without many worries.

It is a complete myth that the Police find grows in this manner. Are they really going to bust down the door of every house they fly over that has a poorly insulated loft? I have been growing in lofts for years and I don't even give it a second thought.

The type of evidence you are suggesting is called "circumstantial evidence", the Police wouldn't start an investigation based on this kind of evidence.

Also, it cost thousands of pounds an hour to keep a helicopter flying, they haven't got the budget to be flying around looking for potential grow sites.

Keep your plant count down. Anything over 9 is considered for dealing in UK.

Set it up right away when you move in as this’ll look like the new owners electrical usage.

That’s not much heat and to be honest I don’t think they really care. They are after folk growing hundreds of plants not 5 lol

So a caution ‘if’ you are caught is most likely. Especially if you can back it up with finances/phone messages which show no evidence of dealing.

Police typically aren't looking for small time growers lol...let the paranoia go and just use common sense.

"I have a tent 120x60x150cm and i've been happily using it for the last years in Dublin, up in the attic, "


So you've been growing in an attic for at least a couple years and now you're worried about getting caught?

I’m not in that region but
The hardest part of growing is really two things
Tell no one and don’t let the paranoia get you
My personal opinion in most instances people who get caught steal power
You should enjoy your hobby m8

I've grown in a few UK attics over the years and never had any trouble, ime most people getting busted ask for it by telling others.
If no one knows and you don't deal there's no reason for plod to arive at your door looking for a grow.

What tends to happen in cities is there's a suspicion raised and the law will fly over if they suspect something worth investigating. Like a warehouse with unusual electricity usage or a smell complaint, then they have reason to look for a heat sig to escalate the case to get a warrant.

The chance of them even flying over is slim in the country because it costs thousands to do it.

Most choppers will be power companies using FLIR to look for broken power cables after high winds.

Ideally you would vent that tiny amount if slightly higher than room temp air out of your house but if your not going to then a fan circulating air within your attic will stop a hot spot on your roof.

Like others have said , they have better things to do and if you know the law and stick to small plant count they really have no interest in you at all.

Best thing you can do is give nobody reason to suspect.
Keep it low noise, zero smell and remember loose lips sink ships.

Im not in either country but imo you need to fully know and understand the penalties to accurately assess the risk

I understand your worry, it's a stress, especially in rural areas without too many people and buildings around you. You feel like you're on 'display' but let's be honest, regardless of the paranoia you're gonna grow anyway, right If it calms you down, Migro is Irish and he surely sold a lot of lights in Ireland. Some people grow other plants besides weed, or they have an aquarium.

I mean even if they are looking, 1 lamp could look like something else. Do you have Mars TS? I imagine it would look like a flat warm square on infrared cameras, like a marble heater. Multiple lamps could be suspicious though.

On the subject of paranoia, i also worry sometimes about my browsing history, i don't have VPN or anything like that. I'll have to get it one of these days.

Smell is the biggest issue for most people. When you run leds there’s no monster heat signature to worry about, so that parts fine.

Astral22 said:

I understand your worry, it's a stress, especially in rural areas without too many people and buildings around you. You feel like you're on 'display' but let's be honest, regardless of the paranoia you're gonna grow anyway, right If it calms you down, Migro is Irish and he surely sold a lot of lights in Ireland. Some people grow other plants besides weed, or they have an aquarium.

I mean even if they are looking, 1 lamp could look like something else. Do you have Mars TS? I imagine it would look like a flat warm square on infrared cameras, like a marble heater. Multiple lamps could be suspicious though.

On the subject of paranoia, i also worry sometimes about my browsing history, i don't have VPN or anything like that. I'll have to get it one of these days.

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I actually have two Mars 600 w lamps in that tent, best thing I realized with time is to put 4/5 plants so I can grow 4/5 months and enjoy the result for all year..

Somewhere I also read that they need a judge to approve before even scan an house with helicopter..not sure if true

But my usual concern is that the attic can be cold like 10 degree and u would have a temp in the tend or 24 or higher so obviously it will result on the scan, also true that its probably to small to be of any interest, it can potentially be a hot water tank or many other things... In guess XD

A.k.a said:

Smell is the biggest issue for most people. When you run leds there’s no monster heat signature to worry about, so that parts fine.

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I'm 100 percent okay with my carbon filter

bam0813 said:

Im not in either country but imo you need to fully know and understand the penalties to accurately assess the risk

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The thing is that seem it's really random.. it can go really bad or they may close an eye cause u are clearly not a criminal...

coreywebster said:

What tends to happen in cities is there's a suspicion raised and the law will fly over if they suspect something worth investigating. Like a warehouse with unusual electricity usage or a smell complaint, then they have reason to look for a heat sig to escalate the case to get a warrant.

The chance of them even flying over is slim in the country because it costs thousands to do it.

Most choppers will be power companies using FLIR to look for broken power cables after high winds.

Ideally you would vent that tiny amount if slightly higher than room temp air out of your house but if your not going to then a fan circulating air within your attic will stop a hot spot on your roof.

Like others have said , they have better things to do and if you know the law and stick to small plant count they really have no interest in you at all.

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Unfortunately guards here in Ireland are ridiculous, not able to do important things ends up ruining the life of honest people while the scam is left untouched... It's unbelievable

Herb & Suds said:

I’m not in that region but
The hardest part of growing is really two things
Tell no one and don’t let the paranoia get you
My personal opinion in most instances people who get caught steal power
You should enjoy your hobby m8

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Thanks! Yep paranoia can totally ruin the enjoyment of growing sometimes

xtsho said:

"I have a tent 120x60x150cm and i've been happily using it for the last years in Dublin, up in the attic, "


So you've been growing in an attic for at least a couple years and now you're worried about getting caught?

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Yes, with a bit of anxiety and now moving to the country side and try to fix the anxiety part, not sure if the place change would impact any how the chance of being cought but I just thought to clear my thoghts before starting again