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Neighbors that smoke - should I bring it up to them?

Ryan

Lifer
I operate by a "live and let live" philosophy, I generally don't give a fuck what anyone does with their lives, in their homes, etc. That said, I have new neighbors who are renting out the other half of the duplex townhouse, they are smokers. A mother and her two sons, all three are smokers. They smoke so much that the smell is permeating through the walls and seeping into my house.

I walk into my office, and it reeks like an ash tray. The same with my room. Is it kosher to even bring up such a topic with a neighbor, especially considering it's something they do in the privacy of their own home?
 
Sorry to hear about your situation
complain to the landlord. I don't know what he/she can do about it.

I've heard cases like this where you can even get money from court if you own your side of the townhome, because they probably lost value on your home by making it smell like smoke.

If you are renting and the landlord doesn't care.. you gotta move outta there.
 
If you own the Townhouse and rent out half then yes, if you're both renting then no. They have just as much right to do what ever is legal in their home as you do even if you find it disgusting. If it gets too bad then move and find a place that discourages their tenants from smoking or just doesn't rent to them. Of course maybe bring it up with the landlord and see if he'll put a sealer on the a joining walls and repaint. It would help cut down the smell seeping through.
 
Unfortunately you bought a rather poorly constructed home if smells are transferring between shared walls. Fortunately if you own your half you can do things to help seal out the smells like putting a high quality primer/ sealer on a joining walls and repainting, sealing air leakage between units, you may even have to get into the attic and seal off air leaks, I'm sure there is more you can do but again it's really your problem and trying to tell a heavy smoker that you don't approve and it bothers you will just make for a bad neighbor. There is one one other thing you can do, first make friends with them then let them know about the problem. People are more likely to change their behavior for a friend than some one they perceive as being a holier than thou b##ch.
 
HEPA filter with activated carbon filter. It will cost you some money, but it will get rid of the smoke smell.
 
Do you ever talk to them? Like are they people you avoid or people you have a conversation with every now and then?

If you both are friendly in general, I would just talk to them. Hopefully they will be reasonable.
 
I don't smoke(anymore) but I don't see you getting too far with getting them to stop doing something legal in the confines of their home.

I'd follow the suggestions of others and shore up your wall.
 
I am betting you share attic space, and the smoke is making it's way through there.

Maybe buy an forced attic vent? Or maybe higher (WTF??? hire) a contractor to wall off the attic to separate them?

Most duplexes do have common attic space. Recently, break ins have occurred because a neighbor has total access to your house using the attic doors.
 
Originally posted by: meltdown75
too bad, so sad. they're smoking in their own home. move.

but he owns his half.

i'd say sell. maybe the owner of the other half who rents it out would like to buy the whole house.
 
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: meltdown75
too bad, so sad. they're smoking in their own home. move.

but he owns his half.

i'd say sell. maybe the owner of the other half who rents it out would like to buy the whole house.
so you agree, he should move. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: meltdown75
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: meltdown75
too bad, so sad. they're smoking in their own home. move.

but he owns his half.

i'd say sell. maybe the owner of the other half who rents it out would like to buy the whole house.
so you agree, he should move. :thumbsup:

i'm just sayin, it's not so easy to just move when you own the place. 😉

 
kinda seems like you are screwed. you may own half but you do not own the half they live in. so your options are to talk to them (not that it would do a lot of good), talk to there landlord (unless the lease says no smokeing youare hosed) or move.

and no it is not kosher to bring it up.
 
LOL SCREW THAT. My neighbor used to smoke in our patio all the time and the smell would linger in my room for hours. I put a stop to that shit quick. Told him plain and simple to go take that shit elsewhere.

If that smell was seeping into my apartment, you had better believe there will be a solution to it. I'd have them evicted for causing damage to the place.
 
Guys, let's not ignore the fact that there may be a solution that does not involve starting a fight with the neighbor or moving out of the duplex.

Why not just simply address the reason why your house is sharing air with the neighbor's house???
 
Originally posted by: amdhunter
LOL SCREW THAT. My neighbor used to smoke in our patio all the time and the smell would linger in my room for hours. I put a stop to that shit quick. Told him plain and simple to go take that shit elsewhere.

If that smell was seeping into my apartment, you had better believe there will be a solution to it. I'd have them evicted for causing damage to the place.

so where do you draw the line then? by your logic you can kick indian people out because their food smells like curry...

just because you don't like the odor or smell isn't grounds to get someone evicted.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Guys, let's not ignore the fact that there may be a solution that does not involve starting a fight with the neighbor or moving out of the duplex.

Why not just simply address the reason why your house is sharing air with the neighbor's house???

QFT... have a conversation with them. don't be an ass, be genuine and explain your situation
 
Originally posted by: meltdown75
wait

punch him in the throat, and THEN move.

winnah@@!!!!! 😛

actually, i'm not going to agree with those who say to have a conversation with them about it. no matter how calm and rational you are i've found that smokers (my mother and sister both smoke) won't really give a shit about what you have to say about their smoking. they'll just get defensive.
 
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