Clandestine meth lab leaves Mandurah rental trashed and owner with huge repair bill

A homeowner is facing a damage bill worth tens of thousands of dollars after his property was allegedly used as a clandestine methamphetamine lab.

A cleaner noticed stains on the ceiling of Rory Pearson’s south Mandurah property. perth and recommended drug testing.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Meth lab leaves Mandurah rental owner facing huge repair bill

The results were unusual; The drug residue was 200 times the amount considered safe by Australian guidelines.

Tests on extractor fans suggested that meth was being cooked in the bathrooms, while high levels of contamination were also found in the attic insulation.

They will all need to be replaced.

“This house had to be defiled from top to bottom,” Pearson told 7NEWS.

The unwelcome discovery triggered a months-long battle between the property owner and his insurance company, which initially sent cleaners who arrived in shorts and sandals and without protective equipment.

“He tried to get in. I told him, ‘Dude, don’t come in, you’re 21, you’re unaccredited.’ Then I closed the door and asked him to leave,” Pearson said.

Concerned about their health, Pearson, a tradesman, removed them and hired experts.

He said the bill reached $50,000 and the costs just kept coming.

“I was over $200,000 out of pocket based on the market value of the property,” Pearson said.

“For the next 10 years, if I sell this property, I will now have to declare it a contaminated site.”

Significant legal gap emerged

The incident revealed a loophole in the legislation that does not require any qualifications to dispose of hazardous waste.

According to the Guide to Testing and Remediation of Methamphetamine and Illegal Drug Residues in Residential Properties, “a compulsory license or certification is not currently required for the remediation of clan laboratories in Australia” but “recommends suitably qualified staff with recognized training” [or] qualifications”.

Proof that a house has been cleaned is also not required.

According to Consumer Protection, there are no specific fines and no requirements under the Residential Tenancies Act 1976 for a landlord to obtain a certificate before re-letting a property.

Prolonged exposure to meth residue can damage vital organs and lead to birth defects.