AN "EPIDEMIC" of syringes left by drug users at vacated rental properties is endangering cleaners, builders and others.

Syringe finds are increasing rapidly at such properties, according to experienced cleaner Petr Skvaril.

He blames what he describes as an epidemic of dumped syringes on the explosion in ice use.

Syringes are being found strewn through yards, in mattresses and furniture, under houses and even, in one case, stuck in a ceiling.

His firm found 30 used syringes at one property.

"We're finding syringes to the point that every job we're doing, we're taking very careful precautions," Mr Skvaril said.

"There are strict instructions to staff not to touch anywhere they can't see.

"We do a risk assessment with every property."

Mr Skvaril has been in business with Best Clean Carpet Cleaning for about eight years.

He said he never would have dreamed in the early days that risk assessments would be needed.

For most of the time, he said, they would have only found syringes at one or two properties.

"In the last six to 12 months, I reckon there's at least one property a week we've got to be extra careful of."

He said the syringe finds were all along the North-West Coast.

They were less likely on the West Coast, but he thought the issue was growing there too.

Mr Skvaril believed some of the drug use was linked to unemployment.

"Some people are finding that to be the solution to their problems, unfortunately."

As well as syringes, some properties are left full of rubbish and, sometimes, full of perfectly adequate furniture, clothes and other goods.