Methamphetamine is commonly produced and used in every part of the country. Meth use, according to the CDC, causes thousands of deaths each year from overdose. If your home is being used to create meth, this could lead to serious legal issues for your tenants and costly clean up at the property.

Meth Contamination Red Flags

With a professional property management company, Fort Worth landlords will be alerted to meth contamination red flags and be able to view inspection reports and pictures from their property. Here are some things to look for if you are worried about your tenants engaging in this illegal activity.

1. 1. Empty chemical containers: to cook meth, producers need a large supply of a few household chemicals and medicine such as decongestants, iodine, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, paint thinner, lye, freon, phosphoric acid, acetone, and ammonia.
   2. Chemical smell: if you or any neighbors notice a strong chemical smell that could be a sign your tenant is cooking meth.
   3. Meth lab equipment: certain equipment is used to make meth. If you notice rubber hosing, glass containers, fuel canisters, propane tanks, pressurized cylinders, or respiratory masks you should investigate further.
   4. Security system, trash, and unusual activity: if your tenant seems to act strangely with no explanation, such as installing a security system without asking, creating a large amount of trash, or becoming especially active at night, these are also red flags.

What a Property Management Company, Fort Worth Landlords, and Neighbors Can Do

If you suspect your rental home, or your neighbor’s home, has become contaminated by meth, report it to the police immediately. Cooking meth contaminates an area so that it remains hazardous even after it is vacated and no longer used to cook. Only a trained professional should enter the property. Without proper training, an inexperienced person could do more harm than good by trying to assess the problem or clean it up themselves. As a landlord, you are required to pay for the cleanup and cannot rent out the home until it is given a clean bill of health from the government. To learn more about how a professional property management company can help, or set up a free rental consultation, call Specialized Property Management Fort Worth today.