Neighbours smoke filling my apartment

THISISROBERTO · 10-10-2011 4:09pm #1

Hey guys,
i live in a flat here in dublin and recently it has become very uncomfortable. my two adjoining neighbours have started smoking and the smoke is filling my apartment. it seems to come in under the doors, through vents, electrical outlets, plumbing. everywhere. some days are much worse than others and when its at its worst it i actually cant even be there. i have been getting a cough, blocked nose, and my clothes and furnishings smell of smoke. its really horrible. i have spoken to my landlord and he has checked my apartment twice and assures me there is no problem. he doesnt seem to care at all.and to be honest dont think he know how to fix it. not only is this unhealthy, isnt this also a fire hazard? does anyone know my rights as a tenant? or who i can speak to get help on this issue? or any ideas on how to fix it?
cheers
roberto

Ray Palmer · 10-10-2011 4:44pm

It seems really unlikely to the extent you have descibed.

It depends on the building I guess. So is it an old building converted or a new build

Sounds like you are massively sensitive

THISISROBERTO · 10-10-2011 6:37pm

The building is about 100 years old and is divided into 7 apartments. And no, not massively sensitive. Just healthy and an opinionated anti-smoker.

the_syco · 10-10-2011 9:13pm

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

the smoke is filling my apartment. it seems to come in under the doors, through vents, electrical outlets, plumbing.

Um. Through the plumbing? Really?

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

isnt this also a fire hazard?

Severly doubt it.

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

or any ideas on how to fix it?

What happens when you close the windows? Does the smoke still come in?

THISISROBERTO · 10-10-2011 10:39pm

The windows are closed.
The areas where the plumbing comes into the apartment are some of the areas that smell of smoke quite strongly yes.

swirlser · 11-10-2011 12:11am

Well Ive lived in a number of apartments over the years and nothing surprises me about this.

The place I currently rent, the downstairs wc door must be kept closed because otherwise whenever the lady next door smokes I can smell it. A place a few years ago in booterstown had no windows only doors out to balconies and everyone went out to the their balcony to smoke - I frequently had to open and close doors or the smell would come in. Also in the same place the main bathroom door was kept closed because every Thursday without fail the old women next door would cook something I cant even take a guess at, you could get the smell right outside her door and in my main bathroom thru the internal vents. (lol, seems hilarious now, as that was the most expensive place Ive ever rented and my option was to be driven mad from the humidity or get a headache from the smoke)

derealbadger · 11-10-2011 12:33am

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

Hey guys,
i live in a flat here in dublin and recently it has become very uncomfortable. my two adjoining neighbours have started smoking and the smoke is filling my apartment. it seems to come in under the doors, through vents, electrical outlets, plumbing. everywhere. some days are much worse than others and when its at its worst it i actually cant even be there. i have been getting a cough, blocked nose, and my clothes and furnishings smell of smoke. its really horrible. i have spoken to my landlord and he has checked my apartment twice and assures me there is no problem. he doesnt seem to care at all.and to be honest dont think he know how to fix it. not only is this unhealthy, isnt this also a fire hazard? does anyone know my rights as a tenant? or who i can speak to get help on this issue? or any ideas on how to fix it?
cheers
roberto

Get your retaliation in first start smoking 40 a day that will soon teach them:D

lainey316 · 11-10-2011 9:12am

It's certainly not a fire hazard - well, no more than it would be if you couldn't smell it, if they fall asleep with a fag you're in trouble obviously - but tbh I don't think there is anything can be done. My upstairs neighbour smokes a bit, and have had issues from downstairs in the past - it travels through the floor cavity and through the floorboards as far as I can guess. It's all part of the joys :rolleyes: of living in conversions. It's likely to get worse in the winter as people tend to be at home more. If I were you, I'd move.

Ray Palmer · 11-10-2011 11:56am

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

The building is about 100 years old and is divided into 7 apartments. And no, not massively sensitive. Just healthy and an opinionated anti-smoker.

That means overly sensitive.:rolleyes:

Only solution is to move. Older houses simply cannot be sealed in a manner that would suit you and to that fact a new build probably isn't either. Not really anything the landlord can do. Can completely see why he would not care at all. Not a fire hazzard becasue a smell can travel very easily compared to fire.

plasmaguy · 11-10-2011 6:07pm

Not a fire hazard but it's definitely annoying, but really I don't see what you can do other than move out. These old buildings with apartments often do trap cigagette smoke and the like. I remember living in a similar building and cigarette smoke and the smell of gas were always hanging in the air. It was always uncomfortable.

Make arrangements to move out. You can't really dictate whether people smoke in other apartments or not. Would be different if it was a modern house.

THISISROBERTO · 11-10-2011 6:12pm

Thanks lainey, thanks swirlser. Getting on the househunt methinks. In the meantime gonna give draughtproofing doors and gaps a good go.

THISISROBERTO · 11-10-2011 6:16pm

Cheers plasmaguy

tara73 · 11-10-2011 6:18pm

the only thing I can think of is you can try to speak to the landlord, tell him how bad it is and might point him in the direction to declare the house a non-smoking house.:)
I once lived in such an old building converted into 4 apartments and smoking was forbidden for everybody inside the apartments.
But probably he won't agree to it and if, don't know wether it will be a pleasurable harmonic place to live with the other tenants finding out who complained...;)

zyndacyclone · 11-10-2011 6:31pm

To those of you who have never lived in an old house, the OP's claim is accurate. It's is amazing where smells can seep. A little shocked by your rudeness.

Funfair · 11-10-2011 6:43pm

THISISROBERTO wrote: »

Hey guys,
i live in a flat here in dublin and recently it has become very uncomfortable. my two adjoining neighbours have started smoking and the smoke is filling my apartment. it seems to come in under the doors, through vents, electrical outlets, plumbing. everywhere. some days are much worse than others and when its at its worst it i actually cant even be there. i have been getting a cough, blocked nose, and my clothes and furnishings smell of smoke. its really horrible. i have spoken to my landlord and he has checked my apartment twice and assures me there is no problem. he doesnt seem to care at all.and to be honest dont think he know how to fix it. not only is this unhealthy, isnt this also a fire hazard? does anyone know my rights as a tenant? or who i can speak to get help on this issue? or any ideas on how to fix it?
cheers
roberto

Open a window and leave in some fresh air otherwise invest in an ioniser

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ionisers&tag=googiehydra-21&index=aps&hvadid=3951480720&ref=pd_sl_21t48kya11_b

link is just to give you an idea..

Neighbours smoke filling my apartment

Comments