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AUSTRALIAN
GUIDELINE

0.5µg/100cm²

Methamphetamine & property · agent information pack

Meth and the properties you manage

Patterns — not one clue

No single sign proves meth use or manufacture. This pack shows agents what to look for, when to screen, and how to get defensible answers — measured against Australia's 0.5 µg/100cm² surface guideline.

Use residue — the common one

SOFASmoking inside leaves residueMost contaminated rentals come from use, not labs — and it looks like a normal tenancy.

PAINTSurvives repaints & new carpetResidue soaks into walls, ceilings and soft surfaces; cosmetic refreshes don't remove it.

SWABOnly testing finds itThere are often no visual signs at all — screening at changeover is the reliable catch.

Manufacture — rarer, higher risk

FLASKA former lab is a hazmat siteChemical residues through walls, ducting and drains — well beyond surface wipe-downs.

HOMEPhysical signs at the propertyThe warning signs below cluster around manufacture.

ALERTSuspected lab? Stop.Don't touch or disturb anything. Leave if unsafe. Contact police.

Warning signs at the property

SPRAYChemical odoursPersistent solvent-like smells that don't match the tenancy.

Seized meth lab solvents and tubing inside a property

WALLHIDEStains & residueIodine-orange staining on walls, ceilings, carpets — and around toilets, sinks and drains.

Grime and staining through a wall corner and floor — real Brisbane rental

FANVentilation changesModified ducting, fans, hoses or makeshift exhaust points.

WINDOWCovered windowsBlacked-out, reinforced or permanently covered glass.

CAMERAExcessive securityCameras, extra locks and sensors out of step with the property.

BUCKETChemical wasteContainer build-up, dumped or burnt rubbish on or near the block.

Rubbish and debris dumped in a rental backyard — real Brisbane rental

FLASKGas bottles & stockpilesMultiple bottles, drums or chemical stockpiles with no household reason.

Worn LPG gas bottles stacked in a corner

XTampered smoke alarmsRemoved, covered or batteries missing — check every alarm during inspection.

HAMMERProperty damageHoles, smashed fittings, aggressive damage — contextual, not specific.

Internal door with punched holes — real Brisbane rental

PLANTDead vegetationBurn pits, chemical-burnt patches or suspicious run-off in the garden.

Dead, littered lawn patch at a rental property — real Brisbane rental

Materials that raise concern

Each has legitimate uses. Concern rises with unusual quantities or combinations alongside the signs above.

FLASKAcids & solventsHydrochloric acid, acetone, strong cleaners

DROPDrain & caustic chemicalsIn volumes no household needs

SPARKLECamping / solvent fuelPlus ammonia and fertilisers

METERLithium batteries & casingsStripped or discarded in numbers

Waste red flag

5–7 kg

of hazardous waste for every 1 kg produced — it has to go somewhere on or near the property.

ALERT

Suspected active lab — do not investigate. Don't touch or move materials, don't open containers, don't ventilate. Leave the area and contact police. Bulging drums, vapours, tubing or improvised glassware mean the site itself may be dangerous.

The agent playbook

1GLOVE

Don't disturb

Note what you saw
No handling or digging

CHEV

2SWAB

Rapid screen

Minutes, on site
Triage — not the final word

CHEV

3VIAL

Lab assessment

Mapped sampling
µg/100cm² per point

CHEV

4SPRAY

Remediate

Scope from the map
Post-clean re-test

CHEV

5DOC

Document

Keep every record
Disclosure obligations

On site — what the process looks like

Meth rapid-test kit — swab, cassette and buffer

Rapid screen kit

Lab sampling

Decontamination

Clearance report

Why the paperwork matters

METERNumbers, not opinionsReadings against the 0.5 guideline

HOMECHECKRoom-by-room mapWhere residue sits, and how much

CERTClearance certificateEvidence the property is safe to occupy

SHIELDCHKDisclosure coverSellers & agents must disclose known contamination — records protect you

INFO

Screen at changeover, test on suspicion, document everything. Independent testing protects tenants, owners and the agency — everyone gets a number on paper, not a guess.