The Real Estate Authority (REA) has released updated guidance for real estate licensees on the disclosure of methamphetamine contamination in residential properties.
REA’s 2026 guidance follows a review of its 2018 guidance in light of the Residential Tenancies (Managing Methamphetamine Contamination) Regulations 2026, which came into force earlier this year. The review considered the need for consistency and certainty across the wider property sector, the importance of supporting licensees to meet their legal obligations, and the need to protect consumers from harm.
If methamphetamine is used or manufactured at a property, it can leave residues that can contaminate the property and may make it unfit for human habitation. Manufacturing methamphetamine typically results in the highest levels of contamination. However, elevated levels can also occur where methamphetamine has only been used, usually through smoking.
Methamphetamine contamination is likely to be relevant to many prospective purchasers because of the potential health impacts. It may also be an important consideration for purchasers who intend to rent the property to tenants in the future.
As part of the review, REA sought technical advice on health risks from the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) and consulted with representatives from the real estate sector on the draft guidance. The revised guidance aligns REA’s disclosure expectations with the new Tenancy Regulations and provides additional guidance for licensees who may encounter methamphetamine contamination while carrying out real estate agency work.
REA considers methamphetamine contamination above 15 micrograms per 100 cm² to be a defect that must be disclosed.
REA also recommends that any report produced following testing to determine contamination levels is disclosed. Providing the report helps consumers understand the level of contamination and whether the testing and reporting has been carried out in a robust manner that is consistent with NZS 8510 and/or the Residential Tenancies (Managing Methamphetamine Contamination) Regulations 2026.
If methamphetamine contamination is suspected, REA advises that the vendor may first wish to arrange a screening assessment. A screening assessment detects the presence of methamphetamine residue and indicates whether more detailed testing is required. REA recommends that any screening assessment is carried out in accordance with the requirements for a valid screening assessment under the Tenancy Regulations. Where a screening assessment identifies the presence of methamphetamine and indicates that further investigation is required, detailed testing should then be undertaken in accordance with the requirements for a detailed assessment set out in the Tenancy Regulations.
Clear and consistent guidance helps consumers make informed decisions when buying property. The updated REA guidance provides greater certainty for licensees while supporting transparency for purchasers and the wider property sector.
To read the full media release from the REA, and view the revised guidance document, you can visit the REA website here.
