Decontamination
Cleaning and treatment of suitable surfaces in the agreed areas. We plan how to access those areas and protect the surrounding parts of your property.
Meth decontamination contractors
Specialist meth decontamination contractors
A clear way forward for a meth-affected property.
Send us your methamphetamine test report for a free review and written quote. We’ll explain the proposed cleaning, costs and arrangements for your property.
Methamphetamine decontamination in Taranaki, with lower North Island projects by arrangement. We agree travel and timing with you for each job.
What do you need help with?
Buying a meth-affected property?
We can provide a free buyer information report and quotation based on the available testing evidence.
Free buyer information reports & quotes
Taranaki and lower North Island by arrangement
Before buying a meth-affected property, ask us for a free quotation and buyer information report. The quotation uses the testing agency’s report and results, together with the property details and photographs you supply, to identify the proposed decontamination work and costs.
Disclosure when buying
REA’s guidance updated on 7 September 2026 addresses licensed real estate professionals’ disclosure obligations. Tell the agent about your interest in methamphetamine contamination and ask specific questions about existing reports and treatment history. The guidance is distinct from a contractor’s work assessment or your purchase agreement; discuss property-specific obligations with your agent and legal adviser. Read REA’s current methamphetamine disclosure guidance → (opens in a new tab)
Additional information beyond the quote
The report explains other matters to consider when buying, including the condition of painted and coated surfaces, previous repainting, and possible repair or reinstatement costs. Existing paint layers and their adhesion are part of the assessment. See the coating examples in our cleaning process for a possible treatment risk to allow for when planning the work.
We provide general guidance and can include property-specific observations where the available information supports them. Additional matters discussed in the report are not automatically included in the quoted price.
Send us the testing report and results
Attach the testing agency’s full report, including test results and sampling locations, along with any property photographs. Tell us the property location and your purchase or due-diligence deadline.
What you’ll receive
- A buyer information report covering general considerations, with property-specific observations where supported by the available information.
- A quotation identifying the work and costs included, where the supplied information is sufficient to define the scope.
- Clear details of any gaps, further testing or site visit needed before the quotation can be finalised.
The report and quotation are free for suitable enquiries within our service area, with no obligation to accept. General guidance is not a site inspection or confirmation of a particular defect. Our report does not replace the testing agency’s findings or certify the property’s condition. New testing and specialist investigations are separate.
Need a report and quote for an insurance claim?
Yes. Free reports and quotations based on the testing evidence and your insurer’s requirements.
Need a report and quote for a meth contamination insurance claim? We provide free written work scopes and decontamination and repair quotes for suitable Taranaki and lower North Island projects, based on your testing agency’s report and test results.
Send us the testing report, photographs and any scope or documentation requested by your insurer or loss adjuster. You can submit our assessment report and quote to your insurer for consideration.
What you’ll receive
- A written assessment of the proposed decontamination and repair work.
- A scope and quotation based on the available testing evidence and property information.
- Details of any further information needed before we can finalise the quote.
Include the property location and any insurer deadline. Your insurer determines cover and approves the claim.
The assessment report and quotation are free, with no obligation to accept. New testing and specialist investigations are separate services.
Have a meth-affected home or rental?
We can discuss the cleaning scope, what can stay and what may need replacement.
We explain which areas need cleaning, what can stay, what may need replacing, and how much the work will cost. You’ll know what’s included before you agree to go ahead.
Treatment can affect existing paint or coatings, particularly where earlier layers have poor adhesion. We discuss identified risks before work starts. Concealed weaknesses may become apparent during treatment. Repairs and repainting are separate unless included in your quote.
We discuss the affected areas, surfaces, contents and practical conditions, then agree what the job includes.
Contents & materials
Identify what stays, what needs separate handling and what may need removal or replacement. We explain who will handle these items and how anything removed will be disposed of.
Repairs & replacement
We list any repairs, replacement materials and repainting separately, so you can see what the cleaning price covers and what other work may cost.
Know what your price includes
Your written quotation explains where we will work, what we will do, the result the work is intended to achieve, and the price. It states whether testing, disposal, moving or cleaning belongings, and repairs are included or cost extra. If anything changes, we discuss the additional work and cost with you before proceeding.
Need help understanding your meth test results?
Start by checking the test type, sample locations and reported units.
Find out what the different tests, combined results and numbers in your report mean.
An initial check for meth
An initial meth presence test (screening assessment) checks whether meth residue may be present and whether further testing is needed. This can use a suitable test kit or samples sent to a laboratory. For rental properties, the test must use an approved method and follow the instructions correctly.
A positive initial test does not automatically mean the whole house needs cleaning. Ask the testing provider what the result shows and whether individual room testing is needed before deciding what to clean.
A combined laboratory result - Lab Composite Result
The laboratory combines material from several separately collected samples into one analysis. This is a laboratory composite result, often used for an initial check. It gives one combined reading, rather than a separate reading for each room.
A combined reading alone does not identify which rooms need cleaning. It can also mask differences between the sampled locations: one room’s reading may be higher than another’s. The number of samples and the laboratory’s calculation matter when interpreting the result.
Under the 2026 rental regulations, NIOSH field composite testing is not an approved screening method. It is different from a laboratory combining material from separately collected samples. Read about the testing methods.
Can the samples be tested separately?
Sometimes the laboratory keeps the original samples or their extracts and can test them separately after a combined result. This follow-up analysis is called decomposite testing. It may help identify which sampled locations contributed to the combined reading.
Ask your testing provider whether this is available and what it will cost. If the samples were not retained or are unsuitable, new samples may be needed. Separate follow-up results do not automatically replace a formal detailed assessment where one is required.
Separate results for sampled locations
Individual room or area testing gives separate readings for the sampled locations. A formal detailed assessment uses these results to identify affected areas and establish whether cleaning is needed. The results cover the locations tested; they do not measure every surface in the house.
When a formal detailed assessment is needed
For rental properties, detailed testing must meet the prescribed requirements and be carried out by a qualified testing professional who will not do the cleaning on the same property. An initial test with separate readings is not automatically a formal detailed assessment.
What does µg mean?
µg means micrograms. One microgram is one millionth of a gram. It is a unit used to report very small amounts of meth residue.
What does µg/100 cm² mean?
This means micrograms per hundred square centimetres of surface. A hundred square centimetres is an area the size of a 10 cm by 10 cm square. The number reports the amount of residue for that surface area.
What does µg/sample mean?
µg/sample means micrograms measured in the sample analysed by the laboratory. This may be an individual sample or a combined laboratory sample (lab composite).
For an individual wipe sample collected from a 10 cm × 10 cm area, the numerical result can also represent µg/100 cm². For a lab composite, material from several individual samples is combined for analysis. Where equal portions of the sample extracts are combined, the result represents an average, not the total amount from all the original swabs or a separate reading for each room. Read the laboratory’s explanation of how its composite result is calculated and interpreted.
What does a less-than sign mean?
A result such as <0.02 may be reported as “not detected” - meaning meth was not detected at or above the laboratory’s stated limit. This is a reassuring result, but does not prove zero residue. Whether the tested areas meet the required cleaning target is explained in the testing provider’s report.
What do the regulations and standard say?
The rental meth regulations and the New Zealand standard on meth contamination (NZS 8510:2017) need to be read together for properties covered by the rental rules. Buying a property, living in your own home or meeting an insurer’s requirements can involve different considerations. Read which rules and requirements apply to your property.
| What you have | Useful next step |
|---|---|
| No report yet, or an initial screening/combined result | Ask the testing provider what the result establishes and whether further testing is needed. Healthy & Dry can explain the information needed for a quotation. |
| A detailed report identifying areas requiring work | Send the complete report, property location and any insurer or purchase requirements for a free review and quotation. |
| A report saying the applicable requirements are met | Confirm that conclusion and its sampling scope with the testing provider. Do not assume further cleaning is compulsory or that the report settles insurance or purchase conditions. |
Which meth standard or rental rules apply to my property?
The new meth regulations apply to rental properties. If you live in your own home, are buying a property or making an insurance claim, different requirements may apply.
Start with how the property is used
A rental home
For premises covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the 2026 regulations set the meth testing and decontamination requirements. Check the tenancy’s coverage, including for community or charitable housing.
Buying a property
Consider its intended use and the sale agreement. If you plan to rent it out, include the rental requirements in your due diligence. Confirm any other conditions with your adviser, insurer or lender.
Your own home or another use
The rental framework is for residential tenancies. For an owner-occupied home or other premises, confirm the applicable obligations and agreed treatment target before commissioning work.
An insurance claim
Ask your insurer or loss adjuster to confirm the evidence, scope and completion requirements in writing. Put these alongside any applicable rental obligations when requesting a quote.
What changed on 16 April 2026?
The Residential Tenancies (Managing Methamphetamine Contamination) Regulations 2026 introduced a maximum acceptable rental level of 15 µg/100 cm². Affected areas above that level must be decontaminated to 15 or below, assessed room by room.
Testing is not routinely required between every tenancy. Detailed testing is required when the landlord is notified of likely manufacture by Police or a council, or becomes aware of a valid screening result indicating contamination above 15.
Government overview of the rental regulations → (opens in a new tab)
Results above 30 µg/100 cm² have additional habitability and tenancy implications, including an exception for contamination confined to a remote and inconsequential area. Read Tenancy Services’ conditions. (opens in a new tab)
How does NZS 8510:2017 fit?
The rental regulations use relevant parts of NZS 8510:2017 with specific modifications to testing, decontamination and completion. Follow the standard as modified for that rental process.
The standard’s older 1.5 µg/100 cm² benchmark is different from the regulated rental level of 15. Standards New Zealand is revising NZS 8510:2017; meanwhile, it advises referring to the existing standard alongside applicable legislation. Read the standards update → (opens in a new tab)
What shows the work is complete?
The regulated rental process requires post-decontamination detailed testing by a qualified professional separate from the person who did the decontamination. The section 5.6 clearance report and certificate are no longer required for that process; post-work testing still is. Read the testing and completion guidance → (opens in a new tab)
Insurance applications and renewals
Taking out cover, renewing a policy or being asked for updated meth information? Confirm the insurer’s requirements for this property before agreeing the work.
- Provide the existing testing report and known property history to your insurer.
- Ask what evidence, treatment target and post-work testing they require.
- Confirm any exclusions, conditions and when cover can start or continue, in writing.
The rental threshold does not automatically confirm insurance acceptance. We can provide a free written work scope and quotation based on the available testing information and your insurer’s stated requirements. The insurer decides cover.
For a financed purchase, arrange insurance in time for settlement. Settled explains insurance before settlement → (opens in a new tab)
New finance applications
Buying or refinancing a meth-affected property? Ask your lender or mortgage adviser what they need to assess that property.
- Confirm whether finance depends on treatment or repairs being completed, and by when.
- Ask which testing reports, treatment costs and completion evidence they need.
- Check insurance availability and include separately quoted repairs and reinstatement in your budget.
Conditional loan pre-approval does not settle the lender’s assessment of the property. Read Settled’s finance guidance → (opens in a new tab)
Our free work assessment and quotation can help explain the proposed decontamination work and costs. Your lender confirms finance approval and any property-specific conditions.
Guidance checked 3 October 2026. For tenancy rights, disputed obligations or a purchase agreement, confirm your position with Tenancy Services or your legal adviser.
For owners, landlords, property managers and buyers. No obligation to accept the quotation.
Indicative pricing
Meth decontamination price guide
Focus cleaning
$2,000 including GST (NZD)
Cleaning selected areas where suitable. Whether cleaning is needed depends on the testing evidence and applicable requirements.
See focus cleaning details
If you choose additional cleaning, we agree its purpose, areas, price and testing arrangements before work begins. The scope follows the property’s testing results, assessed room by room; no particular numerical outcome is guaranteed.
Minimum charge: $2,000 including GST. Independent follow-up testing confirms the measured outcome and is arranged by the client at additional cost.
Small-property example
$5,500 including GST (NZD)
For compact units and smaller homes, with fewer rooms and a smaller overall floor area to treat.
Read more about the scope
We confirm the scope for the unit or smaller home from its testing report, including the kitchen, bedrooms, living areas and bathroom where treatment is needed. Carpet removal may be limited to affected areas; it is not automatically required throughout the home.
Medium-property example
$8,500 including GST (NZD)
For family-sized homes with several bedrooms, shared living areas and a broader range of rooms to treat.
Read more about the scope
The quotation identifies the rooms and surfaces to be treated across the home. Carpet and window-covering treatment or removal is agreed according to the findings. The type of finish and contamination level can change the preparation, treatment and price.
Large-property example
$10,950 including GST (NZD)
For larger homes with more rooms, greater floor area and more surfaces to treat.
Read more about the scope
We define the internal scope across the larger home, allowing for the rooms, surfaces and materials identified in the testing report. More floor area is only one cost factor. Contaminated garages and outbuildings are normally itemised and priced separately from the main home.
How these examples work
These are indicative examples, not fixed packages.
- Your testing report, affected areas, materials and access determine the written quotation.
- Independent testing is arranged and paid for separately.
- Replacement materials, repairs and repainting are additional unless expressly included.
How much does it cost to clean a meth house?
Focus cleaning starts from $2,000 including GST; the actual work is quoted individually.
Costs & planning
From $2,000 including GST (NZD)
For focus cleaning - cleaning selected areas.
What affects the scope and price?
Whole-property quotations identify the work needed across the home, including the kitchen, bedrooms, living areas and bathroom. The testing results and materials determine what is treated, retained or removed.
Carpets and window coverings
Removal is not automatic. Some items can be cleaned and retained; others need removal. Where only part of the carpet is affected, the agreed scope may limit removal to that area. The quotation identifies any carpet, underlay, curtain or other window-covering removal required.
Garages and outbuildings
Contaminated garages and outbuildings are normally scoped, itemised and priced separately from the main home.
Surface materials and residue levels
The type and condition of the material, its coating and the reported contamination level affect the treatment needed. Polyurethane-coated or varnished timber may require more intensive preparation at higher residue levels. Treatment may affect the finish, with refinishing or replacement needs and their costs discussed before work begins. A reading alone does not establish what will happen to a surface.
Property size is one part of the quotation. Independent testing, replacement materials, repairs and reinstatement are additional unless expressly included.
Access, utilities, occupancy, travel and disposal also affect the quotation. Any return treatment depends on your individual quotation. Ask for inclusions, exclusions and testing arrangements in writing. Sending an enquiry does not book the work.
Your first step
Free report review and quote
Free
Meth test report review and written quote
Send your existing methamphetamine testing report, property location and any insurance or purchase requirements. We review the information and explain the proposed work and price.
Get a free report review and quote- Review of your existing testing report
- Proposed cleaning scope and next steps
- Written quotation with inclusions and exclusions
Independent testing and specialist investigations are separate. If further information or a site visit is needed, we discuss the arrangements before finalising the quote.
Ask a question
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Frequently asked questions
FAQ - Questions about meth decontamination
Find answers about testing, reports, treatment, materials and quotations.
Getting started
From a test result to an agreed plan
A positive result is the start of a decision
Check the sample locations, method and applicable requirements before assuming every room needs cleaning. For residential rentals, the 2026 rules use 15 µg/100 cm²; a result at or below that level does not by itself require decontamination. That is a regulatory rule, not individual medical advice.
Price the complete project
Our four indicative examples are shown above. The written quote follows the report, materials, access and scope. Independent testing is arranged and paid for separately; replacement materials, repairs and repainting are additional unless expressly included.
Allow for testing as well as cleaning
Report review, sampling, laboratory results, preparation, cleaning, drying and independent verification each take time. A repeat result may require further work. Agree a schedule for the actual property before promising a tenancy start or settlement date.
Keep evidence for the next person
Retain the original and post-work reports, agreed scope, invoices and relevant completion records. Independent verification establishes the sampled result; photographs show the work. Neither guarantees zero residue everywhere or protection against later contamination.
Sources: Tenancy Services - meth contamination guidelines (opens in a new tab); Tenancy Services - testing and decontamination requirements (opens in a new tab).
Find the detail that fits your situation
- Meth decontamination costs and project planning →
- Meth testing, residue levels and completion evidence →
- Meth cleaning, belongings and property use →
- Meth in rentals, property purchases and workplaces →
Guidance reviewed 7 October 2026. Information is national; our service areas are stated separately.
Worried about meth in your property? - What next?
Start with the testing evidence and the stage your property has reached.
Your starting point
Whether you haven’t tested yet, have received test results, or have already had cleaning done, find out what to do next.
Choose the situation closest to yours.
I haven’t had it tested
Find out which type of test can help establish whether meth is present and whether cleaning is needed.
Find out about testing →Positive meth test
Keep the full report and ask the testing provider what the results mean. Finding meth does not automatically mean cleaning is needed; further testing may be necessary.
Understand my test results →I need a cleaning quote
Send us your existing testing report and tell us about the property. We explain the proposed cleaning work, the price and any further information needed.
Ask for a free quote →The cleaning is finished - what now?
Check the arrangements for independent testing after cleaning, keep the work records and confirm whether any repairs are still needed.
What happens after cleaning →Does a positive screening result mean I need decontamination?
Not necessarily. A positive screening result alone does not define the cleaning work.
A screening result is a starting point. Keep the complete report and ask the testing provider what it establishes and whether detailed assessment is needed. We need enough information about the affected areas to quote responsibly; a positive label alone is not a work specification.
Can I contact you before I have a report?
Yes. Tell us what prompted the concern and whether any testing has taken place. We can explain the information needed for a decontamination enquiry and the questions to put to a testing provider. Please do not assume that treatment is needed before the evidence is clear.
Does Healthy & Dry carry out the meth testing?
No. Healthy & Dry carries out the decontamination work. Clients arrange and pay for post-decontamination testing directly with an independent testing provider. We do not independently test or certify our own work. The testing provider supplies its own findings.
Understanding test results
What does my test tell me - and what should I do next?
It depends on the type of test and the purpose of the report.
Meth testing guidance
Understand screening, detailed assessment and independent post-work testing before deciding what to do.
Testing has different purposes. Ask for the assessment type, method, inclusions and reporting arrangements in writing.
Screening
An initial check for residue that helps establish whether detailed testing is needed.
Ask: Is this method appropriate for my purpose, and what happens if the result is elevated?
Detailed assessment
More detailed evidence about levels and locations, used to establish the affected areas and inform the next step.
Ask: Will the report identify sampling locations, results and the basis for its conclusions?
Post-work testing
Testing after decontamination to assess the result against the applicable target.
Ask: Who will do this independently of the decontamination work, and what does it cost?
For the current rental-property testing framework, see government guidance on testing and decontamination (opens in a new tab).
Laboratory composite or field composite?
These names describe different methods. In the rental framework, permitted approaches include individual sampling, laboratory composite testing and validated screening kits used as required. Field composite tests and unvalidated kits are not accepted. Confirm the proposed method with the provider. Testing-method guidance → (opens in a new tab)
Before you book a test
- Explain whether this concerns a tenancy, purchase, insurance requirement or decontamination job.
- Ask what the sampler and laboratory each provide.
- Confirm the full price, reporting time and any follow-up charges.
- Check the tester’s independence from the decontamination contractor.
Can a laboratory composite result be broken down?
Sometimes. Ask the testing provider whether individual analysis is available.
Ask the testing provider whether separate samples or extracts were retained, whether individual analysis is available, what it would cost and whether new sampling is needed. Do not assume that a follow-up breakdown automatically supplies the detailed assessment required for your purpose.
Is a baseline test the same as a detailed assessment?
Not necessarily. “Baseline” describes the purpose of a record, not the assessment method.
“Baseline” describes the purpose of keeping a record at a particular time. Ask the provider which assessment and sampling method the service actually includes. The product name alone does not tell you whether the evidence is suitable for a later remediation scope.
What do the units on a meth test result mean?
µg/100 cm² means micrograms per hundred square centimetres of sampled surface. µg/sample means micrograms in the submitted sample. These labels are not interchangeable: confirm the sampled area and method with the testing provider before comparing results. Keep each reading with its original unit, location and report context.
Does a result below the reporting limit mean zero?
No. A result marked with a less-than sign, such as <0.02 µg/sample, means it is below that laboratory report’s stated reporting limit. It does not prove zero residue. Check the report’s terminology and limit; an exact reading of 0.02 is different from <0.02. Do not assume every laboratory or method uses the same limit.
Why might two reports show different results?
The locations, surfaces, dates or methods may differ.
Check whether the reports concern the same locations, surfaces, dates and methods. Ask the report authors to explain differences before drawing a conclusion. A changed number by itself does not establish new contamination, concealed residue or an error.
Requirements and completion
Where can I check the meth rules for my property?
Start with whether the premises are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and why you need testing or treatment. The rental regulations use relevant parts of NZS 8510:2017 with modifications. For a purchase, owner-occupied home or insurance claim, confirm the applicable obligations and any agreed target in writing. Find where your property fits.
Why does an older report say 1.5 when the rental rules say 15?
The older NZS 8510:2017 benchmark and the regulated rental threshold are different. Since 16 April 2026, the rental regulations use 15 µg/100 cm² as the maximum acceptable level. Keep historical results in their original context and confirm the requirements for the current job. Read the standard and regulation guidance.
Does one affected room mean every room needs treatment?
No. The rental framework assesses contamination room by room. Ask the testing provider to identify the affected areas and any gaps in the assessment. Our quotation should name the areas included, rather than assuming a whole-house scope. See the rental guidance.
Will I receive a meth-free or clearance certificate?
No. Healthy & Dry does not promise a meth-free certificate. Our work record describes the agreed work; the testing provider supplies its own findings. For the regulated rental process, Tenancy Services states that the NZS 8510 section 5.6 clearance report and certificate are not required. Read the official completion guidance.
What happens if the post-work result is above the target?
Review the result and agree any further treatment, testing and costs before proceeding.
Your quotation should explain how further treatment, repeat testing and additional repairs will be handled. Review the post-work result against the agreed target and scope, then agree any additional work and costs before proceeding. Independent post-work testing is arranged and paid for separately by the client.
What does the law say about meth in a property?
Official sources
The new meth regulations and the meth standard. Official links to the rental regulations and NZS 8510:2017.
Guidance checked 3 October 2026. The information here is general; your report, property circumstances and agreements matter. Tenancy, insurance and legal decisions need the appropriate advice.
- Tenancy Services - contamination levels, testing and rental responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
- Tenancy Services - testing, decontamination and completion requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Government overview - the 2026 rental regulations (opens in a new tab)
- Standards New Zealand - revision of NZS 8510:2017 (opens in a new tab)
- Standards New Zealand - access to NZS 8510:2017 (opens in a new tab)
Spotted information that needs checking? Let us know at info@healthydry.co.nz.
Planning the work and repairs
How do you clean a meth-affected house?
The cleaning process
See how we prepare the property, remove items where needed and carry out the treatment, with photographs and a short video.
The work depends on your testing report, the materials in the property and the cleaning we agree with you. Not every house needs the same preparation or items removed. We explain the proposed work, possible damage and costs before you agree to go ahead.
Checking the result after cleaning
The photographs show the work, but test results establish the measured outcome. Independent testing is arranged separately by the client.
Treatment steps and examples
What preparation and item removal may be needed?
Removing items that cannot be cleaned
Where removal is needed, we responsibly remove and dispose of contaminated materials, including chattels, carpets and underlay, as part of the agreed decontamination scope.
We identify the items to be removed and agree the handling and disposal arrangements before work begins. Removal and replacement costs are clearly identified in the quotation.
How are surfaces prepared?
Preparing the surfaces
Coated timber may need preparation before treatment. On this job, the varnished doors were mechanically scuffed before the treatment product was applied.
The preparation needed depends on the existing coating and the treatment method. We consider this when defining the decontamination scope, together with any refinishing or repairs required afterwards.
The photographs below show the doors and hallway during and after treatment.
How is the treatment applied?
Applying the treatment
Electrostatic spraying gives the treatment droplets an electrical charge. This helps attract them to surfaces and encourages them to wrap around curves and edges, supporting more even coverage of awkward areas.
It is one part of the treatment process, alongside surface preparation and cleaning. Coverage depends on the surface, product and application technique.
See a treatment demonstration
Watch the treatment in progress
A short look at the sprayer in use during treatment.
See before-and-during treatment examples
During and after treatment
These photographs show the same property during treatment and after treatment, including the timber doors, frames and hallway surfaces.
Door and frame
Hallway doors and walls
Photographs show the work stages. Post-decontamination testing establishes the measured result.
What coating damage should I allow for?
See examples of possible coating damage and what to allow for
Paint condition: a possibility to plan for
Decontamination can expose weaknesses in existing paint layers. Where paint is poorly bonded, previous preparation or priming was inadequate, or an unsuitable or poor-quality coating was used, treatment may cause wrinkling, bubbling, lifting or peeling.
This does not happen in every property. Existing coatings can look sound while concealing weak adhesion between layers. Their full condition and response to treatment cannot always be established in advance.
We consider the available coating history and visible condition when planning the work, explain identified risks, and distinguish decontamination from any repairs or repainting. Repairs and reinstatement are included only where stated in your quotation.
Examples supplied from our work showing possible coating deterioration, not an expected result in every home. Photographs alone do not establish the coating’s original condition or the precise cause of failure, and do not measure methamphetamine residue.
What happens after I contact Healthy & Dry?
How the job progresses
We review your information, explain the work and price, and agree the next steps with you.
Share the starting information
Tell us the location, occupancy, available reports, previous work and any deadline.
Clarify the evidence and scope
We identify what is needed for a quotation. More testing information or a site visit may be necessary.
Agree the work
Confirm areas, contents, access, price and separate testing arrangements before accepting the quotation.
Carry out the agreed treatment
The work follows the agreed scope, with changes discussed and the work recorded.
Review the post-work evidence
Use the testing provider’s findings to determine whether further work is needed before the next stage.
Complete the agreed repairs
Where included, coordinate reinstatement and finishing, with the work record and testing report kept distinct.
What confirms the result?
For the regulated rental process, a qualified professional must carry out detailed testing after decontamination, separately from the person who did the work. Further decontamination and testing are needed if levels remain above 15 µg/100 cm². Official completion requirements → (opens in a new tab)
Keep a useful property record
Keep the accepted scope, approved changes, work photographs and external testing report together. Our completion record describes what was done. A clean appearance or equipment photograph cannot establish the testing outcome.
Do carpets and belongings have to be thrown away?
Not necessarily. The materials, findings and ability to clean them matter.
We do not assume that everything must go or that everything can stay. Identify the items, their ownership and the relevant findings before agreeing cleaning, specialist handling, removal or replacement. Do not dispose of someone else’s belongings on the basis of a brief test summary. Where landlord-provided carpets or other soft furnishings are contaminated above the applicable rental limit and can be retained, they must be HEPA vacuumed and then steam cleaned. Items that cannot be adequately decontaminated must be removed and disposed of.
Can I paint or renovate before the assessment?
Agree the testing and work sequence first.
Tell the testing provider and us about existing or planned painting, cleaning and replacement work. Discuss the sequence first so the evidence, decontamination scope and repairs can be considered together. We do not present painting as a substitute for decontamination.
Can work take place while people live in the property?
It depends on the work plan, occupied rooms and access restrictions.
Tell us which rooms are in use and any essential access needs. The work plan needs to address occupants, pets, contents and access. Any relocation or tenancy decision must be handled with the appropriate advice; a contractor’s quote does not settle occupancy rights.
Can you help with repairs after decontamination?
Yes. We can discuss suitable wall, ceiling and finishing repairs as a separately identified part of the project. The sequence needs to allow for testing and further decontamination. The client arranges any plumbing or electrical specialist directly. Floor and subfloor repairs are not offered.
Project examples and experience
A real meth cleaning job and its test results
Documented project · 2025
2025 project with independent testing after cleaning
The project’s post-cleaning documentation recorded the sampled areas below its stated 1.5 µg/100 cm² criterion. This example comes from our management’s previous decontamination work.
This was the criterion used for that project. The findings concern sampled locations and are separate from today’s rental requirements.
An anonymous residential project from our management’s prior decontamination experience. The evidence is in the reported testing results, not a change in appearance.
The starting point
The testing report before cleaning contained 24 property samples and a separate field blank. Ten property results were flagged for decontamination; the other 14 were shown below the report’s treatment criterion.
The work and outcome
Decontamination was followed by independent sampling and laboratory analysis after cleaning. The property received clearance following that testing in 2025.
What the results describe
The testing report after cleaning contained ten property results and a separate field blank. The project’s clearance documentation recorded the tested areas below its stated 1.5 µg/100 cm² criterion.
This was the criterion for this project. It is distinct from the current regulated rental threshold explained in the standards and rental rules guidance. The findings concern sampled locations, not a guarantee about every untested surface.
Read these as separate reported results. The before-cleaning and after-cleaning columns use different unit labels and may concern different sampling points. They cannot be used here to calculate reductions or compare results before cleaning with today’s rental threshold.
| Area | Readings flagged before cleaning µg, as displayed in the report before cleaning | Readings after cleaning µg/sample, as reported by the laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrooms, grouped | 5.0; 4.8 | 0.11; 0.08 |
| Lounge | 2.2 | 0.09 |
| Hall | 2.1 | 0.04 |
| Bathroom | 12.2 | 0.05 |
| Dining room | 2.3 | 0.04 |
| Rear enclosed porch - painted timber | 3.1 | 0.02 |
| Rear enclosed porch - varnished timber | 4.7 | 0.78 |
| Garage | 14.4; 6.6 | <0.02; <0.02 |
This is an area-level summary of reported results, not a point-for-point calculation of reduction. Readings before cleaning that were not flagged for treatment and field blanks are excluded from this table. The original unit labels are retained; no conversion or percentage reduction has been applied. For this laboratory report, <0.02 µg/sample means not detected at the stated detection limit, not proof of zero residue. A reading of exactly 0.02 remains a numerical result.
Supporting project records are retained privately. Client names, the property address and report identifiers are not published.
The experience behind our service
Experience & training
Healthy & Dry draws on practical meth decontamination experience documented in project records dating back to 2017. Each job has direct involvement from the owner in carrying out and supervising the agreed work.
Healthy & Dry draws on its management’s methamphetamine decontamination experience, documented in project records dating back to 2017.
Management is directly involved in every methamphetamine decontamination project, combining practical work and supervision from preparation and pre-cleaning through treatment and post-cleaning.
Each client receives a written decontamination scope and quotation based on the initial testing report. Clients arrange independent post-decontamination testing directly with their chosen testing provider.
About Healthy & Dry →Quotes and property decisions
Can I get a free report and quote before buying a property?
Yes. Attach the existing meth testing report, photographs and property details. We provide a free quotation where the information is sufficient, alongside a buyer information report covering general considerations such as finishes, previous repainting and possible repair or reinstatement costs. The report can include property-specific observations where supported by the available information. Additional matters discussed in the report are not automatically included in the quoted price. There is no obligation to accept the quote. If more information, testing or a site visit is needed, we explain what is missing before finalising the quote. New testing and specialist investigations are separate.
Do you provide free reports and quotes for insurance claims?
Yes. We provide free written work scopes and meth decontamination and repair quotes for suitable insurance claims in Taranaki and, by arrangement, the lower North Island. Attach the existing meth testing report, photographs and any requirements from your insurer or loss adjuster. We identify the proposed work and costs, and explain any further information needed to finalise the quote. Your insurer determines cover and approves the claim.
Where do you carry out meth decontamination?
Methamphetamine decontamination in Taranaki, with lower North Island projects by arrangement. We agree travel and timing with you for each job. We provide free written work scopes and quotes for suitable insurance and purchase enquiries. Send the existing testing report, photographs and property location. If a site visit or further information is needed, we discuss the arrangements before finalising the quote. New meth testing and specialist investigations are separate.
Can a result tell me who caused the contamination?
No. A decontamination quotation is not a finding about a person or responsibility for costs. Keep the reports and property history together and take tenancy, insurance or legal questions to the appropriate adviser.
Start an enquiry
Find out what needs cleaning and how much it will cost
Send us your meth test report for a free review and quote. We’ll explain the proposed cleaning, costs, surface risks and any separately quoted repairs, so you can decide with a clear scope.
Include any insurer or purchase requirements in your message.
A relevant report can be attached below. Leave out tenant names and unrelated personal details where possible.
0800 111 944
info@healthydry.co.nz
Suspected active meth manufacture should be raised with Police and your local council. This is not an emergency service.
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Taranaki - lower North Island by arrangement
Meth decontamination in Taranaki
Methamphetamine decontamination across Taranaki, with lower North Island projects by arrangement.
New PlymouthStratfordHāweraŌpunakeInglewood
Tell us your town or postcode, send the existing meth-test report and describe the work needed. We’ll agree travel, access and timing for your property.