If you have a concern about a rental home, start with clear facts and the property manager named in the agreement. A suspicion is not a test result. Record what prompted the concern and keep reports, correspondence and dates together. Do not accuse an occupier, make a tenancy decision or arrange major work using an unverified assumption.
New rental contamination rules took effect on 16 April 2026. Tenancy Services explains when professional testing is required, including advice from Police or a council about likely manufacture, or a legally valid screening result above 15 micrograms per 100 square centimetres. A qualified testing professional should explain the method, locations sampled and report. Testing and decontamination follow NZS 8510:2017 as modified by the 2026 regulations. Read the current rules announcement and the full contamination guidance.
A part of the property with residue above 15 micrograms per 100 square centimetres is contaminated and must be decontaminated to that level or lower. Assessment is on a room-by-room basis. A result above 30 micrograms per 100 square centimetres in any part makes the property uninhabitable under this framework. Do not treat an informal sample or a result from one room as a whole-property clearance.
The landlord must arrange required decontamination as soon as practicable. Existing tenants must receive test results within seven days of the landlord receiving them. Rent, temporary relocation, goods and possible tenancy termination depend on the results and circumstances. Use the current detailed guidance and obtain advice before issuing notices or deciding liability.
Testing does not remove the tenant’s access protections. For a standard tenancy, at least 48 hours’ notice is required before entry for meth testing, and testing should occur between 8am and 7pm. Boarding-house provisions differ. Required decontamination has separate notice requirements. Check the applicable access rules before arranging a contractor visit.
For a managed tenancy, use your established property-manager contact. Owners considering our service can explore property management or contact Shelley Scott. This page explains the decision process; it does not claim that every Marshland property is routinely tested or that a particular property is contamination-free.