Clear rules tackle meth contamination

The Government is clarifying its regulations around meth residue management in rental properties. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says that the lack of legislation on acceptable levels of methamphetamine residue in rentals has caused long-standing confusion. “Landlords and tenants deserve clarity on when rentals must be tested for residue, what should be done to ensure risks are managed, and how these issues should be navigated during a tenancy,” Potaka says.

The clear rules are now that rental properties are deemed contaminated if meth residue exceeds 15µg/100cm² and will require decontamination until levels are at or below that. When methamphetamine residue levels are above 30µg/100cm², landlords and tenants will have the option of quickly ending the tenancy. Landlords will need to hire professional testers in certain situations where contamination is suspected or confirmed.

The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) welcomes the Government’s move. REINZ chief executive Lizzy Ryley says the new regulations balance tenant safety and protecting landlords, their assets, and decontamination costs. “The introduction of clear standards and processes will give tenants, landlords and property managers much greater confidence and certainty.”

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says the new regulations will replace years of uncertainty with a clear, science-based framework. Previously, there was no legally defined threshold for safe meth residue levels in rental properties, leaving landlords, tenants and property managers to rely on voluntary standards or conflicting advice. The new rules, HUD says, will bring consistency and fairness to how contamination is assessed and managed.

Testing will follow a two-step process. An initial screening test can be done by a competent person using validated methods. Still, a detailed assessment must be carried out by an independent, qualified professional once contamination is suspected or confirmed. This ensures that results are credible and not influenced by parties with a financial interest in the outcome.

HUD says the new framework will also clarify how landlords must deal with abandoned goods left behind in contaminated homes, acknowledging the higher risks and costs involved in storage or disposal. The regulations are now being drafted and are expected to come into effect in 2026, following Cabinet approval and the necessary legislative changes.

Meth contamination has become a housing issue as much as a criminal one. Wastewater testing consistently shows that methamphetamine is the most commonly detected illicit drug nationwide, with particularly high rates in regional and rural areas. Even small amounts of contamination can raise health and safety concerns. When meth is smoked or produced indoors, the chemical vapour can settle on walls, ceilings, carpets, and curtains, forming a sticky residue.