Landlords can now enter onto the property* to test for meth contamination. 

The latest amendment to the Residential Tenancies
Act gives landlords the right to enter onto the property to test for meth contamination provided that the following s48(ba) conditions are met: 

  1. That a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 14 days notice has been given to the tenant advising the reason for entry i.e. to take samples and test
    for meth contamination; 
  2. That the notice includes the contaminants that are to be tested; 
  3. That entry is between 8 am and 7 pm; 
  4. That the test results (in writing) are shared with the tenant within 7 days of the landlord receiving them. 
Can the tenant refuse the landlord entry? No, at least not without a reasonable excuse. In fact, the tenant commits an unlawful act if she refuses the
landlord entry after receiving the above notice (s48(4)(b)). 

If the tenant refuses nevertheless, can the landlord just ‘show up’ to test for meth? No. Just as it is unlawful for the tenant to refuse entry in this
instance, it is also unlawful for the landlord to force or threaten to use force to enter while the tenant is at the property (s48(5)). To do so could land the landlord in jail for up to 3 months or cost him a fine of up to $2,000 (s48(6)). Even if the landlord’s intention is not to forcibly enter, we still don’t think it is a good idea to just turn up at the
property seeing that the tides are so against landlords at the moment. 

If the landlord becomes sufficiently suspicious and unsettled for being refused entry,...