My unit and hallways/stairs reek of smoke. I know which unit the smoke is coming from but when I raised the issue with my neighbor, they told me that they had a right to smoke in their own unit. What can I do?
- You should contact the office and explain what is happening.
- The office will send a letter to your neighbor notifying them that the second hand smoke coming from their unit is offensive/noxious and therefore a violation of General Rule 13 (noxious/offensive odors).
- The office will schedule an inspection of their unit and determine what steps can be taken to keep the secondhand smoke from leaving the unit. If your neighbor is smoking next to an open window, the office will ask them to shut their windows while they smoke.
- Management will schedule repairs that could include installing charcoal filters in their HVAC system and weather stripping around the door from their unit into the hallway and sealing cracks around plumbing fixtures. Management will charge you neighbor for those repairs. You can also ask Management to undertake similar repairs in your own unit to keep the second hand smoke out. You will be charged for the repairs to your own unit.
- You can also request that the hallway, including any carpeting be professionally cleaned. In extreme cases, Management can use ozone generators to remove secondhand smoke after the original source has been contained.
My neighbor sends their guests outside to smoke. They stand in front of the main doorway, on the lawn, and on the sidewalk leading to the street. I have spoken to my neighbor several times but they say that they don’t want people smoking in their unit. What can I do?
- The Association passed a resolution banning smoking in all common areas. That includes hallways and trash rooms as well as the sidewalks and open areas between the buildings and the street.
- You can remind your neighbor of this resolution.
- If the problem continues, you can ask the office to issue a memo reminding residents of the policy.
- If the problem still continues, you can make a complaint in writing (via email or snailmail) to the Management Office and they will send a formal letter to your neighbor asking that they and their guests comply with the smoking policy. Management can also refer the issue to the Covenants Committee which has the authority to impose fines for violations of the By Laws and Policy Resolutions.
One of the neighbors sits on the bench in front of my building and smokes, sometimes for what seems like hours at a time. What recourse do I have?
- You should contact the office and explain what is happening.
- You can ask the office to issue a reminder memo.
- You can ask them to put up a no smoking sign temporarily by the bench.
- You can ask Management to refer the case to the Covenants Committee or the Board so they can discuss further steps.
Someone is leaving cigarette butts on the stoop in front of my building and around the benches. I am afraid my child is going to pick them up or my dog is going to eat them. What can I do?
- Contact the office.
- They can issue a memo reminding residents that it is a violation of Policy Resolution 15 to leave cigarette butts in the common areas, including outdoor areas.
- You can ask them to have the maintenance staff pay increased attention to picking up cigarette butts around your building.
