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Squatters turn rental property into meth lab and cause $50k damage

LANDLORD Michael Mills is facing a whopping bill after his property was trashed by drug-using squatters — and stripped of everything of value.

Squatters trash Perth property (9News)

LANDLORD Michael Mills risks losing his property after it was trashed by drug-using squatters — and stripped of everything of value.

The uninsured Perth father-of-four has months of work ahead of him — and a huge clean-up bill — after he says his investment property in Yanchep was turned into a Meth lab.

He said the home “stinks”, “it looks like a dog was living here” and there’s a scattering of needles “everywhere” in the home.

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The Perth home.
The Perth home.
Everything gone from kitchen.
Everything gone from kitchen.
Junk everywhere.
Junk everywhere.

“Oven’s gone, sink’s gone, taps are gone,” the 42-year-old said.

“Everything’s trashed, broken, smashed windows.

“It’s just heartbreaking, everything, there’s not one thing in this house that hasn’t either been damaged or stolen. Everything’s missing.”

Mr Mills said the culprits — homeless drug users — stole the light fittings, doors and toilet seats

“Why would you steal everything?”

Tests came back positive for drugs in home.
Tests came back positive for drugs in home.
Mr Mills is heartbroken.
Mr Mills is heartbroken.
Animals got into the house too.
Animals got into the house too.

He believes the squatters moved into the house after he evicted some messy tenants four months ago.

He said neighbours eventually informed him that squatters had gained access to the vacant home, by ripping off roof tiles and smashing windows.

“There was plenty of drug paraphernalia in this room,” he said.

Mr Mills is a property inspector by trade and said that there was meth residue in all the walls.

He found needles, bongs and meth pipes among the debris.

Mr Mills told various local media outlets that repairing the damage, cleaning the house, and replacing contaminated and stolen items would cost him over $50k.

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Originally published as Squatters turn rental property into meth lab and cause $50k damage

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/squatters-turn-rental-property-into-meth-lab-and-cause-50k-damage/news-story/42c5c51cc313a344eca049926b8800d5