Smoking Neighbor- PITA or real risk

Pfingsten

Conundrum: I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex. Our 1st floor neighbor is a woman in her late 50's or early 60's.

She smokes.

    Every hour.

        Outside.

But not just outside, on her porch, inside of her storage unit with the door open, attached to the porch, so she can look out without others seeing her.

The smoke wafts up to our windows and blows inside if we happen to be enjoying the day's fresh air. Many a beautiful fall day has been ruined by her choice to smoke every hour outside. I am very sensitive to smoke and when it wafts into our apartment, it sort of gets trapped. Disgusting! So, at the first signs of smoke odor, we shut our windows and screen doors.

Smoking Neighbor also leaves her porch door and windows open, so it's obvious she enjoys fresh air as well.

With my upcoming time at home on maternity leave with a baby, I really want to know I can leave windows open for fresh air without sucking in her exhaust. Our aparment manager and much of the office staff are smokers so I think I won't get much sympathy from them.

What can I do before I actually resort to getting in her face about it?

Hyfagal

I think you're fine. If you're it's wafting through the air between building floors before coming into your window it's more dispersed than if she were sitting right next to you blowing it in your face. At this point I'm sure it's more annoying than potentially dangerous.

katlor9

I feel your pain. We live in an apartment building and I'm pretty sure we're the only ones that don't smoke. There are "no smoking" signs placed in four different spots around the building. It hasn't been a problem lately, but during the summer was terrible. The lady below us smokes inside and it comes up to our place through the windows. Extremely annoying. During the winter the guy across the hall smokes and when he opens his door the whole hallway smells and it comes into our place! I didn't make a fuss about it this year, but once the baby comes I will definitely be talking to the building manager.

cndmexbaby

What are the smoking laws in your city? My mom lives in an apartment in California and they were just informed they are no longer allowed to smoke on their balconies because the smoke drifts into neighbor apartments.

I would have a HUGE problem with that cigarette smoke. But I am not sure you can do much unless there are laws.

evenstar622

I used to smoke.  And I lived in an apartment, so I would smoke out on the porch.  One day, my neighbor came flying out onto his porch and starting screaming profanities at me and was just yelling like a madman.  I wouldn't suggest doing that.  It just made me want to smoke more, just to annoy him....hehe.

 But I don't smoke now, and I know how frustrating that would be.  I HATE the smell of smoke and HATE HATE HATE the thought of my children breathing it in.

Quite honestly, I remember thinking at the time that if my neighbor had just kindly approached me, and told me that he was bothered by the smoke, I would have made a conscious effort to change where I smoked.  So if I were you, I might just go down and explain your concern to your neighbor.  She has every right to smoke, but if she knows that you are just worried about your baby, maybe she can work something out so it isn't so bothersome to you. 

It is worth a try.  But just be kind and understanding about it. :0)  GL!

samanthastanford632

Buy a house?

Pfingsten

Can't do it soon enough... but our lease is up in June. So we have to at least stick it out till then.

[Deleted User]

You could leave your windows open with a fan blowing out so that minimal smoke gets in.  Otherwise, unless there is a policy against smoking in your building, you get to suck it up.  Sorry. 

BallSox

First of all, as a fellow Hoosier, I can't imagine having my windows open too much longer.  Esp. during my time on leave (End of Nov/Dec/Jan) 

Secondly, as a fellow apartment-dweller, it's part of the package that is community living.   Loud neighbors, stomping on the ceiling, unfortunate smells, etc, you signed up for it when you signed up for an apartment.   You could *try* saying something to her, but she has as much right to smoke as you do to not breathe it.  Hell, my last apartment, our upstairs neighbors used to smoke pot, but there was very little we could do about it because by the time we'd call to report it, they'd come to bust them, they'd be done.  We lived in a house converted into two apartments so we even shared a ventilation system.   Compared to walking into a pot-hazed apartment and having a little second hand drift in?  I'd take the second hand.  

 

SpartanChick88

We had the same problem when we lived in an apt.  We complained to the management because I'm severely allergic to cigarette smoke and was having trouble breathing.  They bought us a couple of air filters that we would put near the door when the neighbor was smoking.

We would also turn a fan downward on the deck so that it blew most of the smoke back down.  I know it's a pain... there were times when I was tempted to dump water on the guy... but I never did.

Pfingsten

Thanks for all the feedback and support. You all helped me formulate my response and actions. Until we can move when our lease is up in June, this is the best I think we can do for civilities. Here is what I beautifully hand wrote in a note card and envelope that I'm about to put in their front door:

"Dear Neighbor in 1A-

    I'm not sure you are aware just how much the cigarette smoke lingers and wafts when you choose to smoke on your balcony. We kindly respect that you are using your rented space how you wish. However, we would apreciate if you would consider how much you enjoy fresh air blowing into your apartment. We've noticed that, just like us, you choose to leave your windows or porch door open. Many times we have to close them in repeating intervals to keep your smoke out, as once it enters, it is difficult to remove from our apartment.

    We don't claim to be perfect neighbors and, in fact, understand that with 3 weeks before our baby is due, I am probably driving 2A nuts with my frequent midnight bathrom runs and our creaky cloor. I at least try to step in the spots that don't squeak, out of courtesy.

    If you would kindly consider reducing the frequency of your outdoor smoking, it would mean a great deal to us. Likewise, we would be disappointed but respect your choice to disregard this request.

    Sincerely, 3A"

Feedback welcome and let me know if you approach your offenders in a similiar way or use my wording!!

Good luck and thanks to ALL of you!

mishu917

Contrary to what another poster said, you should be concerned. I hate how people just like to brush this off just because they know someone that smokes and don't think it's a big deal. Research has shown that just breathing in toxins from cigarette smoke in the air can cause DNA damage to your baby in the womb. Even though the toxins that get to them are over 10 fold diluted because of the placenta etc, the damage is still the same to the DNA of the mom as with the baby.... so 10X worse than what the mom gets essentially

Along with this, please keep in mind that once the smoke particles are in the air, they can cling to drapes and carpets, and you are breathing this in.

I had my doctor write a note and I just took it to the Superintendent of my building who told the person that they couldn't smoke on their decks (it's against our rules anyways...NY). I probably didn't need the note but decided to get it anyway just to make it more concrete. At work, I am on a committee to get them to ban smoking on campus (even though it's very controlled here), and we're progressing very well. It's selfish and if you choose to kill yourselves, no one else should have to suffer any consequences especially unborn kids.