ATTENTION REAL ESTATE AGENTS & HOUSE VENDORS & PURCHASERS.

The Methamphetamine Testing Industry Association of New Zealand (MTIANZ) has issued a press release about the updated standard sale and purchase Agreement (10th Edition 2019)

which has the inclusion of a toxicology (meth) condition clause.

Some main points from the article below or click here to read the whole release.

• The new version of the agreement is endorsed by the Auckland District Law Society and REINZ.
• The toxicology condition clause (9.5) relates to both use and manufacture of meth (and other drugs). This differs from some official rules that only really apply to manufacture.

The clause

• is intended for use by potential purchasers who may choose to include or exclude a toxicology condition and provides protection if the vendor fails to disclose historical information that may not comply with the New Zealand Standard NZS8510:2017. That’s the NZ Standard which is 1.5 micrograms per room, not other levels for example the 15 per room accepted by Auckland City Council and (seemingly) Tenancy NZ.
• makes the agreement conditional on the purchaser getting a meth test withing 15 days.

NZQA Certified Sampler

The meth test must be done by a qualified sampler like those at Habitat Property Services – meth testing houses in Auckland.

The acceptable level conflict

The rest of the article is about the disconnect between organisations about what level of meth is acceptable. As mentioned before, Standards NZ is 1.5/room, Auckland City Council, the REA and (seemingly) Tenancy NZ accept 15/room.

Notes: 

We say ‘(seemingly’) acceptable by Tenancy NZ because we haven’t found any published information from that organisation as to what level of meth contamination is OK, or not OK.

1.5/room is actually 1.5 micrograms per 100cm2 per room. The NZ Standard NZS8510:2017 has definitions of what a ‘room’ is and recommended location for wiping.