Is Meth a Risk Worth Managing?
MethSolutions Blog
by Nicky Stratford
2y ago
Over the last 3 years, perceptions around the risk presented by meth related behaviour have changed. How have these perceptions changed reality and is it a risk worth managing? Miles Stratford Director of Safe & Healthy Home Solutions provides some food for thought for investors. This government seems to have taken great delight in lining up property investors. Owners of investment property have a slew of reforms to contend with. Many come with significant cost associated with them. As a result, investors need to make an assessment of the risks they are exposed to and determine whether or ..read more
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The importance of retaining the Toxicology Clause in a Sale and Purchase Agreement
MethSolutions Blog
by Nicky Stratford
3y ago
The Toxicology Clause in the sale and purchase agreement has been included, to ensure that people do not have to remember the real risks presented by meth. Retaining the clause and spending a few hundred dollars on due diligence, can avoid tens of thousands in uninsured losses due to meth contamination. Yet too many people are still rolling the dice on this risk. Context On the back of recommendations in the Gluckman Meth Report not to test for meth, testing rates around property sale and purchase dropped from over 30% to less than 5%. This simply means more meth affected properties are transa ..read more
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Contaminants, Contamination and the RTA
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
As at the 27th of August 2019, the first elements of the Residential Tenancies Act Amendment Bill 2019 came into effect. The Bill defined methamphetamine as a contaminant. However, the steps necessary to introduce this into regulation, will not be taken for another 12 to 18 months. Defining methamphetamine as an environmental contaminant, is a big step forward. It is a reflection of the fact that at some level, meth residues in property will compromise occupant health and well being. In many overseas jurisdictions, that level has been clearly defined. In New Zealand, we are advised that it wil ..read more
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RTA Amendment Bill No. 2 Passes Committee Stage – Update for PMs and Landlords
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
The RTA Amendment Bill No. 2 will soon be returned to Parliament and will pass. There are things we know and things we do not. Despite the knowledge gaps, the significance of this Bill should not be lost on Landlords. In simple terms, if you do not know the meth status of your property, then there is a high likelihood of finding yourself in breach of regulations. The potential for compensating people you know, but cannot prove, were responsible for contaminating your home is real. Meth use alone will contaminate property Known and Unknown In this Bill, we know meth will be defined as a contam ..read more
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Insurers aligning their goalposts with government agencies
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
  Advice from the Insurance Council of New Zealand, is that as of 1st of July, one of the country’s top insurers, Vero, will align its policy response for meth residues with the numbers included in the Gluckman Meth Report. It should be anticipated that other insurers will follow. Changes will be introduced for new policies and those that are renewing after 1 July. So, it will take a wee while to work its way through the system. Gluckman Report a de facto standard This action on the part of the insurance industry is understandable. If it works for Government agencies, why should they tie ..read more
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Meth in property – the Property Manager’s Conundrum
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
Evidence of meth risk is there for people to see – if they choose to do so There are many property managers and real estate professionals who have experienced first hand how their physical health and well-being is affected by properties with meth residues present. Even where these are low level. Others have not. And this group tend to be somewhat skeptical of the health risks associated with meth. Somewhat understandably given their person experience. What we all need to recognise, is that we all react differently to the presence of environmental contaminants. Some people react violently. Othe ..read more
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The importance of sample site selection when testing for meth
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
One of the criticisms of the meth testing industry, has been the potential for two organisations to go into the same property, offer essentially the same service, but end up with completely different results. How does this happen? In part, it is because the residues that are being targeted are invisible. Where for example, are the meth residues in this property? Addressing these inconsistencies, was one of the key aims of NZS8510:2017. What influences results of meth testing As well as the challenges of finding an invisible contaminant, there are other things that can account for the differenc ..read more
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The Reality of MethRisk in Property
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
Nearly 1 year ago, a politically led report into the risks presented by methamphetamine and how these should be managed was released by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. The report identified that: The lack of very specific documented evidence health effects, meant that raising acceptable levels for meth residues, to at least 10 times higher than any jurisdiction anywhere in the world considered appropriate, was an acceptable thing to do. The risk presented by meth was so low, there was no point in actively managing the risk. Evidence to support this assertion, came fr ..read more
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RTA Amendment Bill No. 2 and Meth Testing – December 2018 Update
MethSolutions Blog
by Miles Stratford
3y ago
Much is being made of how changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, which will be brought in under the RTA Amendment Bill No. 2, will create an obligation at law for Landlords and their property managers to use services provided by parties that are qualified and/or accredited in accordance with the recommendations under NZS8510:2017. Assertions that in November 2018 these obligations exist at law are false and misleading. The notes below identify the key elements of the Bill as they relate to contamination by meth and the approaches to be used when testing for meth. What they highlight, is tha ..read more
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Why MethManagement Matters
MethSolutions Blog
by Nicky Stratford
3y ago
If you are a Buyer, Landlord or Property Manager it is more important than ever in this “current environment” that due diligence is undertaken and management of the risks for methamphetamine in property is implemented.  Listen to Miles Stratford, CEO of MethSolutions explain why. https://www.methsolutions.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Why-MethManagement-Matters.mp4 The post Why MethManagement Matters appeared first on MethSolutions ..read more
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