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Meth Rules, Finally with Numbers

Meth Rules, Finally With Numbers

At long last, the long and messy history of meth in NZ rentals is about to come to an end. For years, the issue has been more myth than method: landlords spending thousands on unnecessary clean-ups, tenants spooked out of perfectly safe homes, and insurers rewriting policies faster than adjudicators could decide cases. Now, with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s latest announcement on the regulations, clarity arrives in the form of two simple numbers: 15 and 30.

Fifteen micrograms per hundred square centimetres is the new bright line between “clean enough” and “contaminated.” Thirty is the red flag. If the level exceeds 30 µg/100cm2 then s59B of the RTA triggers and the landlord or tenant can walk away from the tenancy with a very short notice (2 or 7 days). For a sector that has lived for years in a fog of folklore and over-correction, the new settings promise a little sobriety.

From panic to protocol

For the better part of a decade, meth contamination has been the rental industry’s Boogeyman. Tribunals heard cases where landlords demanded a full strip-out for residue that posed less risk than a third-hand vape. Insurers pulled levers and rewrote clauses, sometimes lowering their thresholds to the point where “safe” was impossible. Tenants, understandably, were spooked.

The regulations don’t erase every grey area, but they do what regulation is meant to do: they replace competing guesses with a decision tree. Above 15? Clean until you’re below it. Above 30? End the tenancy. Everything else flows from there.

What changes on the ground

Testing gets formalised. Quick screening assessments are allowed, even by landlords, as long as approved kits are used. If those results tip over 15, detailed testing must follow, and only by a qualified professional who is independent of whoever does the cleaning.

Cleaning follows the standard, mostly. The rules adopt section 4 of NZS 8510:2017 but carve out the part on personal belongings, leaving landlords and tenants to decide.

Abandoned goods finally have rules. If tenants leave things behind in a contaminated property, landlords can factor in costs. If the maths are not mathing or cleaning is feasible, the goods can be dumped.

Termination gets a fast lane. When levels pass 30, tenants can quit with 2 days’ notice, landlords with 7.

Five notes to keep in mind

The following observations and tips are from APIA GM, Sarina Gibbon.

  • Regulations still in flight: The announcement is essentially an executive summary. Don’t panic—more detail will come. In the meantime, scenario test your tenancy situations against the 15 and 30 thresholds.
  • Continuity, not revolution: Apart from the 30 microgram habitability limit, nothing is especially new. The rules align with District Court precedents such as Diamond Real Estate Ltd v Allan [2017] and First Circle Real Estate Ltd v Piper [2019].
  • Insurance language will shift: Expect insurers to settle on “clean to 15.” Anything stricter may be owner-funded. Read your policy.
  • Conduct still matters: Even if under 15, landlords can still pursue exemplary damages for unlawful use of premises under the RTA.
  • Testing standards: Stick to approved kits or use reputable professionals. APIA can introduce members to qualified providers.

Practical next steps for self-managing landlords

  • Scenario test your portfolio for 15 and 30 readings.
  • Update tenancy agreements with new thresholds and cooperation clauses.
  • Check insurance: cover to 15, loss of rent, and exclusions.
  • Line up independent testers and decontamination contractors.
  • Create a disposal policy for abandoned goods in contaminated homes.

A sector that can breathe again

These rules don’t magic meth away. They do something more useful: they separate noise from signal. After years of uncertainty, landlords finally have numbers to work with, tenants gain protection from overreaction, and insurers get a framework they can underwrite with less drama.

Treat the regulations as a preview, not gospel. The ink isn’t dry, but the direction is clear: fewer myths, more evidence. And in the world of rental property, clarity is the rarest, and most valuable, asset.

Meth is scary and intimidating. If you are self-managing, you don’t have to face it alone. APIA is a grassroots community built to support landlords through exactly these challenges. Join now.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information for New Zealand residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Check your insurance, read the final regulations once in force, and seek professional guidance for your situation.

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