New Meth Regulations: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

From 16 April 2026, new regulations will significantly change how methamphetamine contamination is assessed and managed in residential rental properties. The Residential Tenancies (Managing Methamphetamine Contamination) Regulations 2026 (the “Regulations”) are intended to replace years of uncertainty with a clearer, evidence‑based framework.

For many years, landlords have faced uncertainty around their obligations when meth contamination was suspected or identified. The issue has been difficult to manage in practice and has been a particular concern for property investors when considering the purchase of rental properties. Until now, the management of meth contamination has largely relied on guidelines and standards that were not expressly embedded in legislation, resulting in inconsistent approaches and unclear legal risk.

A key change is the introduction of clear contamination thresholds. A property is considered contaminated if meth residue exceeds 15 micrograms per 100 cm² in any area. In that case, remediation is required, but only for the affected areas.  Contamination is assessed on a room‑by‑room basis, meaning the entire property does not  need to be decontaminated if only one area is affected.

A higher threshold applies for habitability. If meth residue exceeds 30 micrograms per 100 cm² in any part of the property, the property is considered uninhabitable. Where this occurs (and the contamination is not in a “remote and inconsequential” area), landlords may terminate the tenancy on 7 days’ notice and tenants may give 2 days’ notice, provided they are not responsible for the contamination.

The regulations also clarify testing requirements. Screening Assessments may be carried out by anyone, but Detailed Testing must be completed by qualified, independent professionals and is only required in defined circumstances, such as when screening results exceed the acceptable level or authorities advise meth manufacture is likely. Routine testing by landlords between tenancies is not mandatory.

Decontamination can either be completed by landlords themselves or by professionals in accordance with the prescribed notice and process. However, any person carrying out decontamination works cannot be the same person completing testing of the property. Detailed Testing of the property must be completed again following decontamination works to confirm that meth residue levels are below the acceptable level. If levels are still above the acceptable level, then additional rounds of decontamination and Detailed Testing need to take place.

Overall, these changes aim to create a more proportionate, predictable, and practical system for managing meth contamination in rental properties.

We strongly recommend that purchasers obtain a toxicology report before buying investment properties or farms that include residential dwellings. We also recommend testing between tenancies. Taking these steps can help establish a clear baseline regarding whether meth contamination existed prior to purchase or arose during a tenancy and can reduce the risk of disputes with tenants or complications when the property is later sold.

If you are unsure how the new rules apply to your tenancy, obtaining early specialist legal advice from our Commercial and Property Team at Harkness Henry can help you navigate the new framework.

This article is current as at the date of publication and is only intended to provide general comments about the law. Harkness Henry accepts no responsibility for reliance by any person or organisation on the content of the article. Please contact the author of the article if you require specific advice about how the law applies to you.