Practical guidance for New Zealand
Meth cleaning, belongings and property use
Understand preparation, cleaning, retained materials, waste and the limits of do-it-yourself work.
Guidance reviewed 7 October 2026. This is general property information; health, legal and insurance decisions depend on the circumstances.
Can people and pets stay, and when can the property be used?
It depends on the findings, work plan and access restrictions.
A residue finding does not automatically require every occupant to leave immediately. The findings, use of the rooms, any other hazards and the proposed work determine what access is appropriate. Children, pregnant people or people with health concerns should seek individual health advice; a contractor’s quote or residue threshold does not answer their medical questions.
During preparation, cleaning and drying, keep occupants and pets out of restricted work areas. Agree any temporary accommodation, ventilation, drying and product-specific re-entry conditions, and the verification needed before re-letting. Pets’ bedding, food and water should be protected or relocated. Returning people or starting a new tenancy should follow the applicable completion arrangements, rather than an assumed universal number of hours after spraying.
Sources: Tenancy Services - meth contamination guidelines (opens in a new tab); Tenancy Services - testing and decontamination requirements (opens in a new tab).
What does the cleaning involve, and can I do it myself?
The plan follows the testing evidence and materials: protect and restrict the work area, prepare surfaces, carry out suitable cleaning, deal with items that cannot be retained, dry and arrange independent verification. Coated timber or varnished doors can need preparation that affects the finish; discuss possible coating damage and reinstatement before authorising the work. Ask about product instructions, residues, ventilation and drying.
Rental regulations allow landlords or others to carry out cleaning, but the prescribed methods, precautions and independent testing requirements still apply. Casual household cleaning or painting over residue does not demonstrate compliance. Assess whether you have the ability and equipment to meet the actual scope; complex materials or suspected manufacture need appropriate specialist input. The small-patch mould advice elsewhere on this site is not a meth cleanup instruction.
Sources: Tenancy Services - testing and decontamination requirements (opens in a new tab); New Zealand Police - methamphetamine and the law (opens in a new tab).
Must carpets, curtains, walls or furniture be thrown away?
No. Removal is not automatic for every positive result. Decide from the material, condition, affected areas and whether effective cleaning is possible. Under the rental rules, contaminated landlord-provided carpets and other soft furnishings capable of being retained must receive the prescribed HEPA vacuuming and steam cleaning; items that cannot be decontaminated to the required limit must be removed.
Do not assume the same approach suits all personal belongings, mattresses, electronics or porous items. Separate ownership and consent from the technical cleaning decision. Record what will be treated, tested, removed or replaced, photograph significant items and check insurer requirements before disposal. Wall linings or insulation may need removal where the assessed condition and scope justify it; a positive sample does not mandate whole-house demolition.
Sources: Tenancy Services - testing and decontamination requirements (opens in a new tab); Tenancy Services - meth contamination guidelines (opens in a new tab).
Who handles waste, repairs and repainting?
The written quotation should identify who handles each part of the work.
The quote should identify removed materials, handling and disposal arrangements, and whether reinstatement is included. Contaminated waste should not be transferred into clean areas or disposed of without checking the appropriate facility and requirements. Suspected laboratory chemicals and asbestos need separate assessment and suitable specialist handling.
Cleaning can expose deterioration or change coatings, leaving repairs or refinishing to be priced. Replacement carpets, linings, joinery and repainting are additional unless the quotation explicitly includes them. Coordinate the sequence so testing, removal, drying and rebuilding do not conceal untreated areas or require the same work to be undone. Keep disposal and reinstatement records where relevant to the project.
Sources: Tenancy Services - testing and decontamination requirements (opens in a new tab); New Zealand Police - methamphetamine and the law (opens in a new tab); WorkSafe - working with or near asbestos (opens in a new tab).