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Crusader: 80% of houses P-contaminated
JENNA LYNCH Last updated 05:00 09/01/2013
HOUSEHOLD DANGER: A forensic consultant believes 80 per cent of homes nationally, and about 30,000 houses in Waikato, have some level of P contamination.
FAIRFAX NZ
TESTING, TESTING: Hamilton man Todd Sheppard of Envirocheck runs tests on properties to check for the presence of methamphetamine for landlords and home buyers.
A Hamilton man is on a mission to clean up houses contaminated with P.
Forensic consultant Todd Sheppard said that based on his test statistics he believes 80 per cent of homes nationally, and about 30,000 houses in Waikato, have some level of P contamination.
People were simply not taking it seriously enough, he said.
But those working in the real estate sector aren't convinced by his numbers and say the issue isn't that widespread.
Mr Sheppard recently halted an auction of a Whatawhata Rd house in Hamilton when he announced that the property was contaminated.
He believes landlords should be testing their properties before new tenants move because they would be liable to pay damages if the property was checked by the tenant and tested positive.
He said drug manufacturers were getting better at covering their tracks.
"They're getting crafty now. They're getting the whole house painted by commercial painters," he said.
But Waikato Property Investors Association president Nancy Caiger said she was not convinced the issue was this widespread.
"If it was a big issue, all of our members would be talking about it," she said.
JENNA LYNCH Last updated 05:00 09/01/2013
HOUSEHOLD DANGER: A forensic consultant believes 80 per cent of homes nationally, and about 30,000 houses in Waikato, have some level of P contamination.
FAIRFAX NZTESTING, TESTING: Hamilton man Todd Sheppard of Envirocheck runs tests on properties to check for the presence of methamphetamine for landlords and home buyers.
A Hamilton man is on a mission to clean up houses contaminated with P.
Forensic consultant Todd Sheppard said that based on his test statistics he believes 80 per cent of homes nationally, and about 30,000 houses in Waikato, have some level of P contamination.
People were simply not taking it seriously enough, he said.
But those working in the real estate sector aren't convinced by his numbers and say the issue isn't that widespread.
Mr Sheppard recently halted an auction of a Whatawhata Rd house in Hamilton when he announced that the property was contaminated.
He believes landlords should be testing their properties before new tenants move because they would be liable to pay damages if the property was checked by the tenant and tested positive.
He said drug manufacturers were getting better at covering their tracks.
"They're getting crafty now. They're getting the whole house painted by commercial painters," he said.
But Waikato Property Investors Association president Nancy Caiger said she was not convinced the issue was this widespread.
"If it was a big issue, all of our members would be talking about it," she said.
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