'My neighbours constantly smoke - I fear it'll kill me before it kills them'

02 August 2023 , 12:04

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The neighbour fears the smoke will kill them before it kills their neighbour (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

When you move into a new home, the last thing you expect to contend with is horrible smells or health scares, but one concerned resident has opened up about just that as their neighbour's smoking habit is causing real issues.

Having a nice smelling home is something we all strive for, so when your abode is being made to smell like an ashtray, it can make you worry about your health, and this neighbour has ran out of ideas how to tackle the smell as they are smoking every 30 minutes and won't stick to their agreed "smoking times".

The fed-up resident is seriously worried, even admitting they are worried it's going to "kill them" before it kills their neighbours.

Sharing their dilemma on Reddit, the concerned neighbour asked if anyone has any tips to keep the toxic smoke out, as they explained: "My downstairs neighbour smoke and it's AWFUL. My house always reeks of smoke, they smoke about every 30 minutes, and I often do not open my window now but it's so hot, I run my A/C but the smoke comes through.

"Looking for any or all tips and tricks although I don't think there is much I can do. We are both owners in a condo and there is no bylaws regarding smoking. We cannot move, I would love to move. We are financially trapped in the condo.

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"We bought a specific window insert for the A/C but I think the smoke gets through the plastic and I've used our little indoor fan but pointed out which did nothing but I should try to get something proper to see if it'll help."

Sharing that the neighbours smoke on the balcony, the resident said they have tried to ask the neighbours to cut back, with no success. "We have emailed back and forth a fair bit and there was an agreed upon schedule, they continued to smoke during 'non smoking time' and we didn't even ask them to not smoke on weekends," they wrote.

"I am already convinced that the second hand smoke will kill me years before the constant smoking kills them," the resident added.

Other Reddit users have been quick to suggest helpful resolutions, as one suggested: "Just ask them in a friendly way. They may not realize how much it bothers you. Only a matter of time before exposing people to smoke becomes illegal, as it is a proven carcinogen. Suggest a vaporizer."

Another asked: "Do they have the option to smoke indoors in your complex?" and the author replied "Yes I'd much prefer them to smoke indoors (unless there is some sort of vent I don't know about) I doubt they would as they always shut their doors and windows and only one of them smokes."

Niamh Kirk