Phenomenal interest to buy 'P house'

The Te Atatu property listed on Trade Me as 'P House'.

A house allegedly used for making methamphetamine has had "phenomenal'' interest from potential buyers, the agent marketing it says.

The four-bedroom, two bathroom home, complete with a pool, in Auckland's Te Atatu South has been listed on Trade Me as "P House''.

A detailed contamination report, available to prospective buyers, states the house has a contamination reading of 92. The acceptable government reading is 0.5.

The forthright TradeMe listing had attracted almost 16,000 views by this afternoon - more than double the 6000-odd views it had yesterday.

First National agent Paul Gregory, one of the agents marketing the property, said interest from prospective buyers had been "phenomenal''. He would not disclose whether any offers had been made, saying he did not want to prejudice the sales process.

He wanted the vendor to get the best possible price for the property while making the correct disclosures, Mr Gregory said.

He acknowledged the up-front listing had created a "media maelstrom'' but said buyers needed to understand what they were getting into.

"We've been very, very cautious about how we've gone about the process in terms of taking legal advice for both the viewings and any potential purchase agreement.''

That caution would ensure all parties were correctly informed "and we're giving everyone the best opportunity,'' he said.

The listing description acknowledged some buyers may have a problem with the house, but said it was an opportunity to increase the value of the 675sq m property.

Those serious about the 170sq m cedar home, which has a rateable value of $430,000, would likely have to gut the interior to make it safe to live in.

The wiring would need to be replaced, and any bathroom fixtures would have to be stripped, along with the plaster board.

The listing states the home "must be sold'' and all serious offers would be considered. Sale is by negotiation.