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Testing is not mandatory at every tenancy changeover; it becomes required when Police or a local council advises that meth may have been manufactured at your property, or when an initial screening test returns levels above 15µg/100cm². A property is classified as contaminated if any area exceeds 15µg/100cm², and uninhabitable if any area exceeds 30µg/100cm². Landlords must notify tenants within 7 days if contamination is confirmed.

New methamphetamine contamination regulations came into force on 16 April 2026, and based on the conversations I've been having with Wellington landlords since then, most people are asking the same two questions: Do I have to test between tenancies? And what exactly do I have to do if meth turns up?

The short answers are: no, not automatically, and there's a clear process if it does. But the detail matters, because the penalties for getting this wrong are significant, and the regulations introduce a new framework that's different from how many landlords have been thinking about meth risk.

Here's what you need to know.

What actually triggers mandatory testing

Before April 2026, there was no legally prescribed framework for meth testing in rental properties. Many landlords tested routinely between tenancies as a precaution, which was reasonable, but not legally required. The new regulations don't change that. Routine testing at every tenancy changeover is still not mandatory.

What the regulations do is set out exactly when testing becomes mandatory:

• The Police or your local council advises you that meth may have been manufactured at the property.
• An initial screening assessment (which anyone can carry out, using approved testing kits) returns a result above 15µg/100cm².

Once either of those triggers is met, you're required to arrange a detailed assessment by a qualified professional using an accredited laboratory. You can't rely on a DIY kit alone at this point; the detailed test is what determines your legal obligations and what evidence you'd need if the matter went to the Tenancy Tribunal.

One practical implication: if you do choose to screen between tenancies as standard practice (which many professional property managers do) and you get a result above 15µg/100cm², you're now legally required to follow through with a full detailed assessment. The regulations remove the option to ignore a borderline result.

The thresholds and what they mean in practice

The regulations set two key thresholds that apply on a room-by-room basis:

• 15µg/100cm²: a property or room is classified as contaminated. Decontamination is required until levels are brought back below this threshold.
• 30µg/100cm²: a property or room is classified as uninhabitable. Either party can end the tenancy with 7 days' notice (if the landlord is not at fault for the contamination).

The room-by-room assessment is important. If your kitchen tests above 15µg/100cm² but every other room comes in clean, only the kitchen needs decontamination. You're not required to gut the whole property, only the affected areas.

After decontamination, a qualified professional must confirm that levels are back below 15µg/100cm². If they're not, further decontamination follows, and the process repeats until the property is clear. The property cannot legally be re-tenanted while any room remains above threshold.

What to do if contamination is found

If detailed testing confirms meth contamination in any room, here's the required process:

1. Notify your tenant within 7 days. This is a legal requirement under the regulations. Keep a written record of the notification.
2. Arrange decontamination. You can engage a professional decontamination service, or in some cases carry out remediation yourself, but the decontamination must follow the process prescribed in the regulations. Given the liability involved, most landlords and property managers use a specialist contractor.
3. Confirm decontamination with a qualified test. After clean-up, a qualified professional must test the property to confirm levels are below 15µg/100cm². Keep all test reports, as you'll need them if the tenancy ends in a Tribunal dispute.
4. Document everything. Inspection reports, test results, decontamination invoices, and written communications should all be kept on file. If you intend to pursue the tenant for costs, this evidence is critical.

If the property exceeds 30µg/100cm², you can serve 7 days' notice to end the tenancy, provided you are not at fault for the contamination. This is one of the few situations in NZ tenancy law where a landlord can end a tenancy quickly without going through the full notice period or Tribunal process.

On tenant liability: if a tenant caused the contamination through meth use, dealing, or manufacture, they're in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, using the property for an unlawful purpose and causing damage beyond fair wear and tear. The Tenancy Tribunal can order them to cover decontamination costs, plus exemplary damages of up to $1,000. You'll need strong evidence to succeed with a claim, which is why the documentation steps above matter.

This is exactly the kind of scenario where thorough routine inspection records (photo-documented, dated, and filed) make the difference between a successful claim and an expensive lesson. If you're self-managing and your inspection records aren't this detailed, it's worth reviewing your process now, before you need it.

Check your insurance before you need it

Wellington landlords have more to think about with insurance than most. Earthquake risk already pushes premiums up, and meth coverage adds another layer to the conversation.

Most comprehensive landlord policies include meth decontamination cover, but the cap varies. Typical coverage is $20,000–$50,000. Full decontamination of a badly contaminated multi-room property can cost significantly more than that. If your insurer caps at $30,000 and the job comes in at $60,000, the shortfall is yours.

Three things to confirm with your insurer now:

• What is the meth decontamination cap on your policy?
• What documentation is required to support a meth claim? (Many policies require evidence of regular inspections.)
• Does your policy require you to conduct inspections at a minimum frequency? If so, are your current inspection records consistent with that requirement?

Getting clarity on these points before a contamination issue arises is straightforward. Finding out after the fact that your inspection records don't meet your insurer's requirements is much harder to resolve.

The regulations are new enough that many landlords haven't gone through this checklist yet. If you're managing your Wellington rental yourself, now is a good time to pull out your policy document and read the meth section carefully.

The April 2026 regulations give Wellington landlords a clearer legal framework for meth, but knowing the rules and being prepared to act on them are different things. Solid inspection records, a current insurance review, and a clear process for handling a contamination finding are what separate a manageable situation from an expensive one.

If you'd rather hand this over to someone who handles it every day (tenant selection, inspections, maintenance, compliance, and rent collection), we'd be happy to talk. Get in touch with Dave at Propertyscouts Capital City.