NZQA Certified Samplers
Surface-residue sampling carried out by certified samplers holding NZQA Unit Standards 30892, 30893 & 30894.
End-of-tenancy meth testing — also called post tenancy meth testing — is a meth test after a tenant moves out. It documents the property's contamination status at the end of the tenancy and, when paired with a pre-tenancy baseline test, establishes whether meth contamination after a tenant occurred during the tenancy. This entry-and-exit testing cycle is the single most effective way for landlords to protect against meth-related liability.
Why Test at the End of a Tenancy?
When a tenant leaves, the property's condition is your responsibility — but contamination that occurred during the tenancy is the tenant's liability. Without an end-of-tenancy test, you have no way to know whether the property is contaminated, and no evidence to pursue the tenant for remediation costs if it is.
An end-of-tenancy test gives you:
- Documentation of the property's condition at the point the tenant vacated.
- Evidence of contamination if it occurred during the tenancy — essential for bond disputes and Tenancy Tribunal claims.
- A clear chain of responsibility when compared against the pre-tenancy baseline.
- Peace of mind before the next tenant moves in — you are not passing a contaminated property to a new tenant unknowingly.
The Entry and Exit Testing Cycle
End-of-tenancy testing is most powerful as part of a consistent entry and exit testing cycle. The cycle works as follows:
- Entry (pre-tenancy): A baseline test documents the property as clean before the tenant moves in. See our pre-tenancy meth testing page for details.
- During the tenancy: MethShield® provides ongoing deterrence and monitoring, aiming to help reduce the risk of contamination occurring.
- Exit (end-of-tenancy): A test at the end of the tenancy documents the property's condition when the tenant leaves. If contamination is found and the entry baseline was clean, the tenant is liable.
This cycle creates a documented testing history that protects you across multiple tenancies. For the full rental testing picture, see our rental property meth testing guide.
What Threshold Applies?
For rental properties, the 2026 Residential Tenancies regulations set a contamination threshold of 15 µg/100 cm² and an uninhabitable level of 30 µg/100 cm². However, any detected contamination — even below the regulatory threshold — can create cost, disclosure concerns, and ongoing liability. Many landlords choose to act on any detectable level, not just the regulatory trigger, to protect their investment and their insurance position. For a full explanation of the thresholds, see our meth contamination thresholds guide.
If the End-of-Tenancy Test Finds Contamination
If the end-of-tenancy test detects contamination, the next step is a detailed assessment to determine the extent and location. If you have a pre-tenancy baseline, you have strong evidence to pursue the tenant for remediation costs through the Tenancy Tribunal. The toxicology report from your end-of-tenancy test, combined with the baseline report, forms the evidentiary foundation for your claim.
To arrange end-of-tenancy meth testing for your rental property, contact EnviroCheck. We provide independent, NZS 8510:2017-compliant testing across New Zealand — testing only, with no decontamination conflict of interest.