Yvonne Lacey OAM leads calls for rental law changes after living in badly contaminated meth house

A prominent Mannum woman tested positive to methamphetamine after living in a unit previously occupied by heavy drug users.

Yvonne Lacey OAM tested positive for methamphetamine after living, with her husband Michael (back), in a badly contaminated unit at Mannum. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Yvonne Lacey OAM and her husband were living in a Mannum rental property so badly contaminated with methamphetamine, she herself tested positive to the drug and started feeling ill just days after moving in.

The incident left a horrified Ms Lacey, 67, wondering how she was able to move in to a home posing serious health risks.

She is now leading calls to overhaul outdated rental laws so landlords must test for contamination in between tenancies.

Her case drew serious concerns from Attorney-General Vickie Chapman – and The Advertiser understands SA’s Consumer and Business Services are now reviewing its current policies to identify any weaknesses.

Just days after moving into the unit on Schuetze Street last November, Ms Lacey – who received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016 for community work in regional Victoria – started to feel sick.

Ms Lacey is calling on the government to overhaul rental laws to support tenants in similar situations. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

In early January, her doctor tested her for the drug. The reading was positive.

Ms Lacey, who said she has never consumed the drug, was “horrified” by the result.

“I was driving around not realising I had methamphetamine in my system.”

Neighbours of the unit say the previous tenants were heavy ice smokers and police were regularly called there over the last three years.

There was no evidence of drug production in the unit – but instead it was so heavily contaminated from regular meth use inside.

“We didn’t realise that people using meth also contaminated a house,” Ms Lacey said.

A housing safety inspection done last month revealed there were “dangerous” levels of phosphorus and “high” levels of methamphetamine detected in the kitchen and dining room.

The landlord was issued a housing improvement order.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords have a responsibility to leave the property in a “reasonable state of cleanliness” for new tenants.

But, Ms Lacey argues it should be overhauled to make landlords also test for contamination.

“By not testing and making sure the place is safe, (the landlord) now has a big bill to renovate it,” she said.

“And they also have very upset and angry tenants for having been exposed to such a serious health problem.”

“And not only that, a financially devastating problem.”

Ms Lacey said she faces a bill of up to $15,000 to retrieve and decontaminate her belongings.

Housing Minister Michelle Lensink imposed a rent control order on the home on Thursday, after being accused of inaction by SA Labor.

But, Ms Lensink said her office acted quickly after receiving a letter from the couple last month.

“The matter was referred to the Housing Safety Authority, which took action within two days to issue an (improvement) order.”

Housing Minister Michelle Lensink said her office took quick action after hearing about Yvonne’s case.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said Labor were closely looking at whether law reform was needed.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said Labor was considering whether rental laws needed to be changed.

“This has been a difficult and traumatic experience for Yvonne and Michael,” he said.

“Some of their issues have only just been resolved, but they remain without proper accommodation and face costs of up to $15,000 just to get their possessions back.”

An SA Health spokeswoman said there was limited research available about the health effects of being exposed to surfaces contaminated by methamphetamine smoke.

“As a result, there are currently no national guidelines on safe concentration levels and any of their associated health risks.”

The issue was identified by the national Environmental Health Standing Committee in its 2020-2023 work plan as needing further research and investigation.

SA Health receive notifications of clandestine drug labs when they are found by SA Police, but there is no current notification system for other contaminated properties.

The Advertiser understands the number of calls to the Health Protection Branch regarding health effects of meth in rental properties is low.

[e-mail]