Pubdate: Sat, 21 Nov 2015
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2015 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Myles Hume
Page: A10

CRACK DOWN ON P-USING TENANTS

Tenants contaminating state houses with P face year-long bans from 
renting Housing New Zealand (HNZ) homes and steep costs to have the 
properties repaired.

HNZ is taking a hardline against illegal activity as it combats a 
growing number of homes contaminated by the use and manufacture of 
the Class A drug methamphetamine, also known as P.

Drug-abusing tenants can expect to be evicted and taken to the 
Tenancy Tribunal to pay the thousands of dollars it costs to 
decontaminate properties. HNZ can also suspend them from being in one 
of its houses for up to a year.

Figures show the number of state homes decontaminated for P has 
skyrocketed. Two years ago, 28 properties had to be decontaminated 
nationwide. In the first three months of this financial year, 174 
homes were decontaminated. Thirteen P-infested state homes were 
demolished in the past three years.

A "small number" of Canterbury state homes had been identified for 
testing, including a flat in a HNZ complex in Gloucester St - 
opposite Christchurch East School - that had been unoccupied since 
May as contractors decontaminated the unit. It was in the final 
stages of repair.

After evicting tenant Nicola Gosney from the unit, HNZ successfully 
took her to the Tenancy Tribunal in August over testing and a report 
that cost $3350.

She was ordered to pay $3174 to HNZ (the bond covered some of total 
cost) and was suspended from applying for a HNZ house for a year. HNZ 
lodged an application with the tribunal seeking costs for repairing the house.

Each home needing decontamination cost between $8000 and $16,000, and 
such work cost the agency $2.3 million last year.

HNZ could not say how many tribunal hearings had resulted from its 
"zero tolerance" towards P use and manufacture, but the number of 
cases against tenants had increased significantly.

In the 2015-16 year to date, there had been 139 compensation 
hearings, compared with 132 for the full 2014-15 year.

A HNZ spokesman said all front line staff were trained to recognise 
signs of P and how to deal with tenants affected by the drug.

"Meth contamination is a relatively new but fast-growing problem, not 
just for Housing New Zealand but all property owners," he said.

When it was detected, police and Child Youth and Family were called 
in to deal with children living at contaminated properties. "This 
illegal activity is unacceptable and is preventing vulnerable people 
with a housing need from getting access to a home because cleaning 
and remediation can take up to three months," the spokesman said.

Miles Stratford, director of P testing and decontamination company 
MethSolutions, said HNZ appeared to be taking the issue more 
seriously by opting for lab-based testing over field testing for 
suspected P contamination.

Problems could emerge though when evicted tenants rented homes from 
private landlords. "HNZ are looking to clean up their book, but where 
are these people going to live?," he said.

"If they are not living in a HNZ property, chances are they are 
renting off a private landlord, and who's going to tell that landlord 
about the fact these people have a meth habit that might affect their 
property?"

MethSolutions had conducted about 3500 tests since it began three 
years ago. More than 40 per cent detected P.

Canterbury medical officer of health Alastair Humphrey previously 
said people living in P-contaminated homes risked neurological 
damage, irritation, and kidney failure and damage.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom