Drugs testing not enough to evict tenant

Ultimate Property Management had applied for termination of the tenancy claiming the property had been used for unlawful purposes and was contaminated by methamphetamine.

The tenant, who has name suppression, and her two young children moved into the two-bedroom property in October 2017. 

In December last year the property manager undertook an inspection and found a power disconnection notice on the front door. When inside the property manager found some minor damage and rotten food in the kitchen, but no sign of anybody having lived there recently. Inquiries with a neighbour established the tenant had not been seen for some time. 

Later in the month the property manager was called by police wanting to know where the tenant and her brother were. Her brother had been bailed to the tenant’s address, a situation the property manager was unaware of.