A landlord is facing a damage bill in the tens of thousands of dollars after his property was allegedly used as a clandestine meth lab.
A cleaner noticed stains on the ceiling of Rory Pearson’s Mandurah property south of Perth and recommended a drug test.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Meth lab leaves Mandurah rental owner with huge repair bill
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The results were off the charts, with drug residue 200 times what Australian guidelines consider safe.
Testing of extractor fans suggested meth was being cooked in the bathrooms, while roof insulation showed high levels of contamination.
All will need to be replaced.
“This house had to be defumed from top to bottom, everywhere,” Pearson told 7NEWS.
A clandestine meth lab has left a Mandurah rental trashed and the owner facing a repair bill in the tens of thousands. Credit: 7NEWS
The unwanted discovery triggered a months-long battle between the property owner and his insurance company, which initially sent out cleaners who arrived in shorts and sandals, and without protective equipment.
“He tried to come in. I said to him, ‘mate, do not come in, you’re 21 years old, you’re not accredited’. I then shut the door and asked him to leave,” Pearson said.
Worried about their health Pearson, a tradie, sent them away and hired specialists.
He said that bill hit $50,000 and the costs keep coming.
“I’m out of pocket over $200,000 on the market value of the property,” Pearson said.
“As for the next 10 years, if I ever sell this property I have to now declare that it’s a contaminated site.”
Major legislative loophole exposed
The incident has exposed a loophole in the legislation, with no qualifications needed to remove the hazardous waste.
According to the Guide for Testing and Remediation of Methamphetamine and Illicit Drug Residues in Residential Properties, “there is no mandatory license or certification currently required … for remediating clan labs in Australia”, although it “recommends suitably qualified personnel that hold recognised training [or] qualifications”.
Proof a house has been cleaned is also not required.
According to Consumer Protection there are no specific fines and no requirement under the Residential Tenancies Act 1976 for a landlord to obtain a certificate before re-letting a property.
Long-term exposure to meth residue can damage vital organs and lead to birth defects.
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