Clandestine drug laboratories and cleaning contamination

Methylamphetamine (meth) clan lab

Houses where meth has been manufactured are considered a higher risk to public health. Meth contamination can stay on walls, floors, furniture and curtains long after previous occupants have moved out. Meth clan labs require thorough cleaning following strict remediation and safety protocols to prevent health risks to future occupants.

Houses where meth has only been smoked but not manufactured are generally considered a lower risk to health because smoking produces much less surface contamination. Refer to drug smoke houses for more information.

Contamination from other high-risk drugs

Although not as common in Western Australia, a clan lab where heroin, cocaine, MDMA, or synthetic opioids are made can also produce dangerous residues and require the same level of remediation as a meth clan lab.

Other types of clan labs

Other types of clan labs such as cannabis oil extraction, psilocybin mushrooms or where cannabis has been grown are considered a lower risk to health. However, they may still require a level of testing and/or standard cleaning to remove any residues (chemicals) that may be present on surfaces.

If you become aware that a property has been used as a clan lab you have a duty of care to ensure the property is safe for sale or renting. It is important to understand your legal responsibilities under the:

• Residential Tenancy Act 1987 and Code of conduct for agents and sales representatives (external site) to make sure that any rented property is clean and complies with laws managed by the Consumer Protection division (external site) from the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety
• Public Health Act 2016 and Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911 to make sure human health is protected. Local governments have enforcement powers to make sure a house is safe for habitation. This means a house used as a clan lab may need to be properly tested, cleaned and made safe to live in by the property owner.

The Managing illegal drug contamination in homes: guide for homeowners, property managers and real estate agents will help you understand the process for organising professional testing, remediation (clean up and decontamination) and re-testing.

Step 1: Talk to your insurance company

Before organising, cleaning check if the home insurance covers illicit drug contamination. Some policies don’t include this, so it’s important to know what’s covered. If covered by insurance, your insurance company may organise testing and remediation for you. 

Step 2: Choose a reputable and qualified testing and clean-up company

It is strongly recommended that you utilise the services of environmental professionals for testing and decontamination works. Avoid entering the property or attempting to clean up yourself.

• Use the Checklist for hiring companies to test or clean-up drug contamination (PDF 175KB) to help you choose a reliable company for testing, cleaning, and validating the property. The testing and validating company should be different from the remediation (clean-up) company. This will help prevent being overcharged or quoted for unnecessary work.
• Get quotes: Contact a few companies to compare prices.
• Check reviews: Look online to see what other people say about them.
• Ask for proof: Make sure they have insurance and follow the Department of Health Guide for Testing and Remediation of Methamphetamine and Illicit Drug Residues in Residential Properties (PDF 1MB).

Step 3: Confirm the property is safe to live in by requesting a validation report

Before renting or selling a property, it is important to have evidence confirming that it is safe. The testing company should provide you with a validation report showing the property has drug (e.g. meth) residue levels below those that may pose any risk to human health and below any national health investigation levels.

If there is no suspicion or evidence of clan lab activity at a property, any chemical residue found during testing is most likely from people smoking meth inside the house. Refer to drug smoke houses for more information on what to do.