{"id":115871,"date":"2025-03-12T14:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T03:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyupdate.com.au\/?p=115871"},"modified":"2025-03-26T00:12:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T13:12:40","slug":"busting-some-myths-about-meth-contaminated-properties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyupdate.com.au\/busting-some-myths-about-meth-contaminated-properties\/","title":{"rendered":"Busting some myths about meth contaminated properties"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a landlord, it's important to know your responsibilities around methamphetamine contamination - both for your tenants' safety, and to ensure that you're adequately covered.\u00a0\"Meth<\/strong><\/p>\n

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So what is methamphetamine?<\/p>\n

Methamphetamine, commonly known as 'P' or crystal meth, is a toxic and addictive drug.<\/p>\n

Side effects of its use can include mood swings, paranoia, aggression, anxiety and insomnia.<\/p>\n

Extended periods of exposure to the drug can lead to chronic health effects including cancers, brain damage, liver and kidney damage and birth defects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What is the issue for landlords?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rental properties can become contaminated when tenants recreationally use or manufacture meth on the premises.<\/p>\n

The contamination levels vary depending on the situation - manufacturing or 'cooking' meth can result in homes needing to be stripped and cleaned.<\/p>\n

At Metropole Property Management<\/a> our property managers take the risk of contamination seriously.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Note: <\/span>Few would argue there is an illicit drug problem across our nation.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Meth use has tripled in the past five years, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.<\/p>\n

\"MethPolice are regularly called out to violent outbursts from meth-affected users and burglaries to \u2018feed\u2019 the habit are rampant, while hospital Emergency Departments are the scenes of the drug-fuelled aftermath.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not only on the streets that concern about \u2018ice\u2019 and meth (\u2018P\u2019) is growing \u2013 it\u2019s an issue that landlords and property managers are also having to face.<\/p>\n

Recently there has been a lot of panicked chatter about meth contamination in rentals, but what are the facts behind the fear?<\/p>\n

Claim: Any use (including smoking) of meth in a rental means the property is \u2018contaminated\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

Myth:<\/strong>\u00a0The fear that even trace levels of meth residue pose a risk is being allayed by research.<\/p>\n

Across the Tasman, where the scourge of meth is at epidemic levels, a report by New Zealand\u2019s Chief Science Adviser, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, has shed light on the risks.<\/p>\n

Professor Gluckman said the risk of encountering methamphetamine on home surfaces at levels that might cause harm is \u201cextremely low\u201d and found no evidence that residue from home meth smoking would harm future residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s absolutely no evidence in the medical literature anywhere in the world, of anybody being harmed by passive exposure to methamphetamine at any level,\u201d said Sir Peter.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The\u00a0GLUCKMAN REPORT\u00a0states:<\/p>\n

There are no published, or robust unpublished, data relating to health risks of residing in a dwelling formerly used only for smoking methamphetamine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The report also notes that exposures below 15 micrograms are highly unlikely to cause adverse effects.<\/p>\n

Levels of more than 30 micrograms are indicative of manufacturing activity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is, theoretically a [health] risk if you got up to levels of 100mg or thereabouts, but that\u2019s theoretical. You probably would need levels much higher, in the order of 1,000-10,000mg to have a risk<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sir Peter told media when the report was released<\/p>\n

In four years, state housing authority Housing New Zealand (HNZ) spent over $100 million testing and decontaminating houses suspected of being meth contaminated.<\/p>\n

Many houses were demolished, and several hundred homes were left vacant. However, research showed that of the 1,600 homes HNZ suspected were contaminated, only one per cent contained traces of 30 micrograms or more.<\/p>\n

Testing is not warranted in most situations and remediation to the current standard [1.5 micrograms per 100cm2<\/sup>] is appropriate only in former meth labs and properties where \u201cexcessive methamphetamine use\u201d is indicated, Gluckman noted.<\/p>\n

The takeout is that unless the tenants or their guests are extremely heavy users of meth, the residue from smoking \u2018ice\u2019 is unlikely to be at a level that could potentially cause harm after they\u2019ve gone.<\/p>\n

Claim: Meth drug labs (clan labs) are the main source of contamination<\/span><\/h2>\n

Truth:<\/strong>\u00a0Manufacturing of meth poses a far greater threat to the safety of the home and the health of its occupants.<\/p>\n

The process of \u2018cooking\u2019 ice and other meth-based drugs involves the use of dangerous chemicals, including lithium metal, liquid ammonia, LPG, acetone, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda.<\/p>\n

This highly volatile combination of explosive and corrosive materials are key ingredients in the recipe \u2013 and can leave behind a highly toxic residue.<\/p>\n

If a property is found to have been used as a meth lab, it will require specialist (forensic) cleaning.<\/p>\n

Claim: Meth residue in a home can be a health hazard<\/span><\/h2>\n

Truth:<\/strong>\u00a0High levels of meth residue can pose health risks.<\/p>\n

Chemical residue, left over from the manufacturing process, can seep into soft furnishings, carpets, timber floors and door frames, and even walls and ceilings.<\/p>\n

While you often can\u2019t see the toxins, you may be made painfully aware of their presence \u2013 stinging eyes, nose and throat irritation, respiratory problems, rashes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, blurry vision and headache are common reactions.<\/p>\n

Children, adults and pets living in contaminated dwellings have been known to suffer ill-effects of exposure.<\/p>\n