Apartment smells like smoke
October 19, 2020 3:02 PM Subscribe
My new neighbors smoke inside constantly. What can I do to make the smell in my apartment less strong?
I live above them. They smoke cigarettes and pot all day, every day. I bought a $300 air purifier that isn't making the smell go away (the top choice recommended on the wirecutter). I left a friendly note on their door asking them to please smoke outside. I left my phone number in case they wanted to get in touch. They did not. They continue to smoke indoors. They have also had several large parties, and I've never seen any of them wearing masks. I'm very vulnerable, so I am not inclined to knock on their door try to have a face-to-face discussion with them. The only time we have had an in person discussion they were very annoyed with me for wearing a mask and kept telling me to take it off, so I really don't want to interact with them face to face about this. In this discussion she yelled and me and called me rude several times (it is a long story, but I promise you that I was not being rude and I was actually just frightened because she woke me up in the middle of the night and scared me by ringing on my doorbell repeatedly). They are all adults, as am I. We live in a nice community and I never had trouble with my neighbors until they moved in a few months ago.
I'm completely housebound and completely isolated thanks to the pandemic, and this is making my already shitty life so much worse. We don't have the same landlord. What can I do to control the smell in my own home? I cannot live like this. The smell is so bad that it's keeping me up at night. I refuse to call the police about this (marijuana is illegal in my state, but I'm not calling the cops over this).
I live above them. They smoke cigarettes and pot all day, every day. I bought a $300 air purifier that isn't making the smell go away (the top choice recommended on the wirecutter). I left a friendly note on their door asking them to please smoke outside. I left my phone number in case they wanted to get in touch. They did not. They continue to smoke indoors. They have also had several large parties, and I've never seen any of them wearing masks. I'm very vulnerable, so I am not inclined to knock on their door try to have a face-to-face discussion with them. The only time we have had an in person discussion they were very annoyed with me for wearing a mask and kept telling me to take it off, so I really don't want to interact with them face to face about this. In this discussion she yelled and me and called me rude several times (it is a long story, but I promise you that I was not being rude and I was actually just frightened because she woke me up in the middle of the night and scared me by ringing on my doorbell repeatedly). They are all adults, as am I. We live in a nice community and I never had trouble with my neighbors until they moved in a few months ago.
I'm completely housebound and completely isolated thanks to the pandemic, and this is making my already shitty life so much worse. We don't have the same landlord. What can I do to control the smell in my own home? I cannot live like this. The smell is so bad that it's keeping me up at night. I refuse to call the police about this (marijuana is illegal in my state, but I'm not calling the cops over this).
Do you have an air purifier and filter specifically recommended for smoke? I have a Blueair purifier for wildfire smoke and was reading about their "SmokeStop" filter that supposedly works well for cigarette smoke.
I'm guessing you're probably somewhere that cigarette smoking is legal in apartment buildings, but check your local laws just in case. Overall, though, I think I'd look into options for moving if I was in your situation. I don't think there's anything you can say to them directly that will help.
posted by pinochiette at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2020
I'm guessing you're probably somewhere that cigarette smoking is legal in apartment buildings, but check your local laws just in case. Overall, though, I think I'd look into options for moving if I was in your situation. I don't think there's anything you can say to them directly that will help.
posted by pinochiette at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2020
Is there a property manager? A super? Maybe they can have a conversation with these tenants.
Do you get along with your landlord? Maybe they can take things up on your behalf? Maybe they know who owns the other unit? I can't imagine the owner of that other unit is going to be happy to find out their apartment reeks of smoke when these tenants finally move. That is going to be an expensive pain to clean and if I were that landlord, I would not be happy.
posted by brookeb at 3:18 PM on October 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Do you get along with your landlord? Maybe they can take things up on your behalf? Maybe they know who owns the other unit? I can't imagine the owner of that other unit is going to be happy to find out their apartment reeks of smoke when these tenants finally move. That is going to be an expensive pain to clean and if I were that landlord, I would not be happy.
posted by brookeb at 3:18 PM on October 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you aren't interested in talking to the cops I would recommend figuring out who the owner of that unit is and contacting them, letting them know there is drug use and cigarette smoking indoors happening on their property. You can check public records, or contact the HOA and ask if they can communicate with that owner on your behalf if they are not willing to release a name and contact info. I would also notify your own landlord about what is going on and let them know you a) do not feel safe in dealing with these people face to face, so you won't be doing so, and b) are hoping the owner of the other unit will take some action.
If you have an HOA ask them what the policy is on smoking indoors. Many have outlawed it.
I'm a landlord and if I was away from the area for any extended period of time I would appreciate being given this information by a neighbor so I could do something about it. Smoke ruins paint, carpet, curtains etc. pretty fast. It's hard to rent a place when the first thing the prospective tenant notices is an unpleasant smell. In addition to that, possession or use of illegal drugs in the unit may be a violation of the lease that the landlord is willing to enforce.
On a practical note, you can air seal your own apartment more effectively by covering all the air registers with a magnetic cover for as much time as you can stand. It will probably be chilly depending where you are, but you can use a space heater/bundle up/get an electric blanket or mattress cover.
Also ensure there are no cracks and gaps around pipes or other mechanical openings (if there are, fill them with spray insulation like Great Stuff) allowing air from the wall cavity or other units to get in. And make sure that your windows and doors are weather sealed. For the front door, get a door snake to minimize hallway air coming in.
posted by zdravo at 3:52 PM on October 19, 2020 [5 favorites]
If you have an HOA ask them what the policy is on smoking indoors. Many have outlawed it.
I'm a landlord and if I was away from the area for any extended period of time I would appreciate being given this information by a neighbor so I could do something about it. Smoke ruins paint, carpet, curtains etc. pretty fast. It's hard to rent a place when the first thing the prospective tenant notices is an unpleasant smell. In addition to that, possession or use of illegal drugs in the unit may be a violation of the lease that the landlord is willing to enforce.
On a practical note, you can air seal your own apartment more effectively by covering all the air registers with a magnetic cover for as much time as you can stand. It will probably be chilly depending where you are, but you can use a space heater/bundle up/get an electric blanket or mattress cover.
Also ensure there are no cracks and gaps around pipes or other mechanical openings (if there are, fill them with spray insulation like Great Stuff) allowing air from the wall cavity or other units to get in. And make sure that your windows and doors are weather sealed. For the front door, get a door snake to minimize hallway air coming in.
posted by zdravo at 3:52 PM on October 19, 2020 [5 favorites]
As an owner in a condo association I would definitely want this brought up if it were happening in our building. As others note this affects others and can cause permanent damage — good luck getting smoke smell out of fixtures and stuff without spending thousands on a deep clean.
As others note I would contact your landlord, assuming they're the owner, and have them bring it up with the board or directly contact the other owner whom your neighbor is renting from. I believe our building-wide rules prohibit smoking, and I wouldn't be surprised if something similar exists at your place. Honestly if it weren't, I would petition to add it to the association's rules.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 5:06 PM on October 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
As others note I would contact your landlord, assuming they're the owner, and have them bring it up with the board or directly contact the other owner whom your neighbor is renting from. I believe our building-wide rules prohibit smoking, and I wouldn't be surprised if something similar exists at your place. Honestly if it weren't, I would petition to add it to the association's rules.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 5:06 PM on October 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
Definitely talk to the landlord. The last thing you want is for your landlord to think you became a smoker during the term of your lease and caused the smells in your apartment. You could lose a security deposit or worse.
posted by slateyness at 5:09 PM on October 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by slateyness at 5:09 PM on October 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
I’ve been you. There is nothing you can do to mitigate enough smoke to make it livable, and no amount of asking nicely is going to get them to stop. I would call the landlord.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:32 PM on October 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:32 PM on October 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
I'd call your landlord and theirs (if there's anyway you can get their details). I'm sure both parties would be really interested in knowing that their properties are becoming unliveable due to the actions of this tenant. I'm sorry, I'm asthmatic and this sounds miserable.
posted by Jubey at 5:46 PM on October 19, 2020
posted by Jubey at 5:46 PM on October 19, 2020
Response by poster: If you aren't able to track down their landlord's information your landlord might have it. At the very least you should let your landlord know what's happening so they don't think the smoke smell in your home is coming from you. I'm guessing they will not be thrilled that their property is being affected and may help you pursue a resolution.
posted by Anonymous at 6:30 PM on October 19, 2020
posted by Anonymous at 6:30 PM on October 19, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2020 [13 favorites]