8 Sep 2026
Meth contamination rules for rental properties
Methamphetamine rules changed on 16 April 2026. The legal threshold for contamination is 15 micrograms per 100 square centimetres. If you own a rental, that number is the one that now decides whether a property is treated as contaminated under the residential tenancy rules.
Testing is not something to improvise after a bad inspection. Use a qualified tester, keep the report, and do not let a well-meaning clean-up destroy the evidence you may need for insurance or the Tribunal. Tenants who suspect contamination should tell us in writing rather than arranging their own work.
What we do in practice
- Take a report of residue, gear or a strong chemical smell seriously
- Pause casual "just paint over it" maintenance
- Point owners to the official threshold and to their insurer
- Follow the tenancy process if a tenancy has to end or a property has to be vacated for decontamination
This guide is not a substitute for the regulations or for advice on a live case. Read the current rules through Tenancy Services and call us if a property you own, or rent through us, is involved.