The Government has announced new regulations to help landlords and tenants manage methamphetamine contamination in rental properties
After years of uncertainty, we welcome the Government’s announcement to introduce clear regulations around methamphetamine contamination in rental properties. This long-awaited move brings much-needed clarity to landlords, tenants, property managers, and the broader real estate industry. It also signals the end of NZS 8510:2017 as the default standard, replacing it with a more evidence-based approach that reflects current scientific understanding.
You can read the full Government announcement here.
Why This Matters:
For years, property managers have been caught in the crossfire between outdated standards, insurance company requirements, and public fear. NZS 8510:2017 set a decontamination threshold of 1.5 µg/100 cm², a level that was never legislated and has since been widely criticised for being overly conservative. This standard led to costly and often unnecessary remediation, despite a lack of evidence showing health risks at such low levels.
The new regulations, informed by scientific reports from ESR and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, will set a maximum acceptable level of 15 µg/100 cm² for methamphetamine residue, which I believe is a significant and sensible shift. ESR’s 2022 report concluded that exposure below this level poses a very low probability of harm, and further remediation offers no additional health benefit.
For property managers, this change means:
- Insurance companies must align with Government standards once the regulations are passed into law.
- Property managers will no longer be pressured to recommend meth testing between tenancies unless there is reasonable suspicion.
- Both tenants and landlords will gain clarity on their rights and responsibilities.
- Testing and remediation practices will be standardised, reducing confusion and cost.
For too long, property managers have been forced to navigate a grey area, often recommending testing out of fear of liability rather than genuine health concerns. This announcement removes that burden and allows us to focus on managing properties responsibly and efficiently.
The ESR report, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), used a risk-based approach to determine safe exposure levels. It found that:
- 15 µg/100 cm² corresponds to a reference dose of 3 µg/kg body weight/day, which is considered safe over a lifetime.
- There is no precedent internationally for remediation thresholds as low as 1.5 µg/100 cm² for properties used only for meth use (not manufacture).
- Third-hand exposure to methamphetamine residue at low levels has not been shown to cause adverse health effects.
The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s 2018 report also concluded that exposure below 15 µg/100 cm² is highly unlikely to cause harm, and that the NZS 8510 standard should not be universally applied.
This change will reduce unnecessary costs, protect tenants and landlords, and restore confidence in the rental sector.
The regulations are expected to come into force in 2026 and will include:
- Clear thresholds for contamination and tenancy termination.
- Rules for testing, sampling, and decontamination.
- Guidance on handling possessions left in contaminated properties.
Until then, property managers are encouraged to follow a risk-based approach. Testing should only be recommended when there is reasonable suspicion of meth use or manufacture. Blanket testing between tenancies is no longer justified.
At Property Brokers, we have long advocated for a more balanced and evidence-based approach to meth contamination. We are pleased to see the Government finally take action. This change will reduce unnecessary costs, protect tenants and landlords, and restore confidence in the rental sector.
We will continue to monitor the rollout of these regulations and update our policies accordingly. In the meantime, we urge all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the proposed standards and prepare for the transition.
For more information, visit the HUD methamphetamine regulations page.
References:
www.hud.govt.nz
esr-report-2022
pmcsa-Methamphetamine-contamination-in-residential-properties
www.hud.govt.nz
