Smoking Neighbors

[Runfree]

Folks, I need some help.

 

Smokers have moved into the townhouse unit next to mine and the stench permeates my place.  Sealing the wall between is impossible as we share utility piping and well, the construction is simply not tight.  

 

I'm wondering if any of you have dealt with this and if you have tips on what works and what doesn't.  Other than talking with them about it, or their rental agency, or the homeowner himself, I don't know what can be done.  I don't think I have a leg to stand on other than pleading my case with them.  Those good old fashioned handshakes just don't work in this world anymore.

 

Are there any air purifiers that you swear by?  Right now I'm dousing my furnace filters with essential oils and diffusing some in my humidifier.  But that's just a bandaid.

 

I'm not just bummed.  I'm spitting fire mad about this.  Woke up at 12:40 AM to thick, suffocating stink.  I need to do something, I'm just not sure what.  Advice?  Thanks! (heading over to the cursing thread)

[Nancy]

Oh, that is awful! I would think that whoever owns the property would certainly not want it to become inhabitable for anyone but smokers, so I think I would start there.  It is quite a dilemma!

[ArmedNAruba]

Ya, you need to talk to them. Now.

[ChRiSpY]

I agree... that is the property owners responsibility.

 

That blows...sorry.

[BAT]

That does blow. I agree also with the property owner route.

[sgt.barney]

Leave ... or Deal with it.

 

> Other than talking with them about it, or their rental agency, or the homeowner himself, I don't know what can be done

 

What would you have done as a smoker, right? We all - all of us, would have laughed that one off.

 

Sarge just thinks of it as PayBack.

 

It's our turn now.

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Peasy

[Runfree]

What would you have done as a smoker, right? We all - all of us, would have laughed that one off.

 

 

Actually, I didn't laugh it off.  Ever feeling the smoker's shame, I did as they asked and sulked away with my ashtray in hand. 

[Ramona]

Keep us updated after you speak with them.

I predict they will be understanding.

[sgt.barney]

Actually, I didn't laugh it off.  Ever feeling the smoker's shame, I did as they asked and sulked away with my ashtray in hand.

 

Not in your own home you didn't.

 

 

 

Easy Peasy

[sgt.barney]

Keep us updated after you speak with them.

I predict they will be understanding.

 

Sarge predicts they will "be understanding" ... yet nothing will change and they will still smoke.

 

 

Easy Peasy

[El Bandito]

Tough one.

 

In the world we would like, you will talk to them and inspire them to quit. We will celebrate with them here on the QT.

 

The reality is that they will consider you 'extreme' and may even be very defensive and/or offended. They will feel bad, you will feel bad and everyone will still stink.

 

Whatever you do - try to remain calm and cool. 

 

Fingers crossed

[buMbLeB]

I've been there. Even back when I still smoked, I had upstairs neighbours who not only smoked out their window above mine, but ashed their cigarettes and even threw the burning butts, which occasionally got blown back into my suite for me to find on my windowsill.  :angry: In that case I did video and report them, they moved not long after. Later when I first quit I was driven occasionally mad by the slight lingering (and to me delicious) waft of cigarette smoke, I didn't do anything about that and I don't notice it anymore.

 

You may actually have some legal remedy if the smoke is actually "thick and suffocating" - here in Canada I recall a recent court case on almost exactly the same grounds, I can try and find a link for you if you like, I think it revolved around questions of health hazard and interfering with one's reasonable use and enjoyment of property. But that's only useful if you don't mind things getting ugly. I don't think any air purifier would manage to do more than one room, which might be enough for your bedroom I guess, but I've never used them.

 

If it were me (the ideal me, not the real me), I'd first make nice to the new neighbours, make them a cake or have them over for cider or whatever, get off on a good foot, and also figure out who among them seems the most accomodating and reasonable. Then in a few weeks I'd arrange to bump into him/her and casually take them into my trust about my predicament that I totally know they're not aware of and is not their fault, and how I'm an ex-smoker struggling to preserve my quit and my health, and if there's anything they could try and do, even only sometimes, that wouldn't be such an inconvenience - like smoking outside or on the other side of their house away from our common wall etcetc...

[Runfree]

Keep us updated after you speak with them.

I predict they will be understanding.

 

So far, no smell, no lights, no sound, nada thing.  They may not be home.  <shrug>

[ChRiSpY]

On the positive... they may be home and care about your feelings

[Runfree]

Update - I live next door to smokers.  They have smoker friends who visit.  I bought an air purifier but I think I'lll need 3 more.  Or a For Sale sign.  It's not over.

[ChRiSpY]

Update - I live next door to smokers.  They have smoker friends who visit.  I bought an air purifier but I think I'lll need 3 more.  Or a For Sale sign.  It's not over.

 

Dislike

[Devil Doll]

What a horrible situation.

After reading through the thread I have mixed feelings. Perhaps nicely talking to them about it will help? If it doesn't then maybe going through the property manager. A lot of renters do not want smoking in their homes, as it is really hard to get the smell out. :/

[Runfree]

Seems to have turned a corner...hopefully.

 

Last Tuesday morning I came totally unhinged and made some calls to the owner and his property manager.  I even called our HOA manager to no avail.  When I got home from work that evening, there was a sign on their door reminding them smoking was prohibited on the property, threatening eviction, sanitation fees, etc.  Granted the lady has not been around much, but the air is clearing and it smells more like home again.  

 

Thank you all for your support.  I do appreciate it.  I've not smoked inside my home for the last 30 years and there are no words to describe how awful it is to be engulfed in that stench.  Wow, I really hit the skids while this was happening.  But I'm not going to apologize for wanting to live in a fresh smelling home.

[IndigoChilde]

Good for you! I think taking action in this matter was the right thing to do. You have the right to enjoy yourself, whereever you are. Actually, I think it's the right to happiness. Either way, your neighbors were violating that right.

[beacon]

 

I am glad that you may have found the solution.  My mom moved into a condo and has the same problem.  And my mom has lung cancer. :(  When I first quit smoking, I bought some of these to suck the old smoke out of my house, and later  I bought some for my mom to line up near her door

 

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=212642&catid=198284&aid=338666&aparam=212642&kpid=212642&CAWELAID=120142990000037070&CAGPSPN=pla

[Runfree]

I am glad that you may have found the solution.  My mom moved into a condo and has the same problem.  And my mom has lung cancer. :(  When I first quit smoking, I bought some of these to suck the old smoke out of my house, and later  I bought some for my mom to line up near her door

 

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=212642&catid=198284&aid=338666&aparam=212642&kpid=212642&CAWELAID=120142990000037070&CAGPSPN=pla

 

OMG Becon, that is beyond horrible for you mom.  I'm so sorry.  Man.

 

I bought a few bags of this http://www.lowes.com/pd_621549-78465-1013D_0__?productId=50291593 .  They worked well in my crawl space so I thought I'd give them a try.

[ArmedNAruba]

 This is why owning my own house was my #1 goal. Could not stand the neighbors you are "forced" to be next to with apartments/condos/townhouses. Between the noise & the smells I felt like we were living entirely too much in each other's worlds.

 

I remember one apartment I had, there was a sweet old lady that lived above me. The problem was, this sweet old lady loved to sit in her rocking chair and rock all night...every day...every night...and the floors were very very squeaky. Talk about something that will set you over the edge. Then there was the dumpster located behind my bedroom window. This is where many disposed of their doggy droppings and old food.

 

Of course I had thinner walls, so the intercourse that took place besides me in apt. 24 was there for everyone to enjoy. Every time I would complain, something else would pop up. There wasn't any peace. I lived in 4 of these places and every one was a nightmare. Now I have house where my family's smells and sounds are our own.

 

 

 Next goal is have property with at least an 1/2 acre between the closest neighbor. :)

 

 

Good luck with your situation Rf. I can't imagine having to smell some one else's smoke after I have quit smoking. This would be my breaking point.