Drug sniffer dogs are being used to detect drug use in apartment buildings.

The issue has come to light after a landlord posted a listing on Trade Me promising "random" drug tests.

The Trade Me rental listing for a two-bedroom home in Onehunga said the tenant would have to agree to a "random drug detection regime". The listing was removed following inquiries into how these drugs tests were carried out.

"All of my properties are subject to a random drug detection regime to make this a safe environment for you and your family," the ad read.

Auckland property lawyer Joanna Pidgeon said while landlords were able to conduct tests for contaminants, they still had to give at least 48 hours' notice before visiting the tenant.

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Landlords who conduct random tests inside homes without notice could pay up to $2000 in damages.

Body Corporate Management general manager Jane Atkin said sniffer dogs had been used in common passageways for many years.

"Common areas fall out of the Residency Tenancy Act and are owned by the Body Corporate so building managers have the right to use sniffer dogs in common areas without notice," Atkin said.

The Trade Me lister, who did not want to be named, said random drug tests were mentioned as it was his right to do the testing, although he claimed he had never done so or issued a formal complaint to any of his tenants in the last five years.

"I reserve the right to drug test in a random fashion."

SUPPLIED The Trade Me listing stating the landlord could conduct random testing is no longer on the website.

When Stuff said "random" suggested he would not provide any notice, he said: "You're drawing a long bow because you are assuming I'm getting access within the tenancy. If this is about me knocking the word random, then I'm happy to do that. I'm protecting my right, my tenants and future tenants.

"Landlords have to provide a safe environment and if something goes wrong, and a three-year-old contracts cancer because of being living in a property for a year because there are so many unknowns with drug testing, the finger gets pointed at the tenant," he said.

"You're assuming I go into the property. You don't need to go into the property to test for drugs. There are drugs sniffer dogs you can use in common passageways."

Before the listing was taken down by Trade Me, a spokeswoman said "we've spoke (sic) to the property manager and he is aware of his obligations but we think use of the word 'random' could be a little misleading so we will be asking him to remove that."

MBIE housing and tenancy manager Jennifer Sykes said landlords had to give 48 hours' notice and even when notice to enter is provided, landlords could only enter to inspect the property, install smoke alarms or carry out maintenance.

"Inspections cannot be carried out more often than every four weeks. If the landlord enters the property without the required notice or the tenant's permission, they could be considered to be interfering with tenants' peace, comfort and privacy," Sykes said.

She said there was a Bill before Parliament which, if passed, would allow for landlords to enter rental premises to measure methamphetamine contamination levels during tenancies (with specified notice periods), and would develop regulations to test for methamphetamine.

In May the Government published a report that says there is no real risk to humans from third-hand exposure to houses where methamphetamine has been consumed.