Wed, 05/27/2009 - 11:50am
Neighbor who smokes
We have a next-door neighbor who is a heavy smoker, as are his visitors, it seems. The smoke is seeping into the bedroom that adjoins his apartment. I've done everything I can to seal off that space (even putting little things into the outlet holes, because I heard smoke can seep in there) but it's still really smoky. I have an air purifier going all the time, but the room still stinks. I'm considering offering to give him an air purifier, which would be small and quiet but might help. Is that obnoxious? He seems like a nice guy, but is pretty private and quiet.
I am not sure what the right answer is - i have the same problem and i am not so nice about it. in fact, the kid smokes pot all the time and tries to blow it out their window but all that happens is that it blows into our apt window (our building drafts air from outside into a central open core). They are in a sponsor apt in a converted co-op building.
What are my options?
You, as a shareholder, have two separate sets of rights. One is to pursue your neighbor, as well as the sponsor as owner of the apartment, for creating a nuisance--the pot smoke that blows into your apartment. The second is to pursue the co-op for allowing such a nuisance to exist and failing to do anything about it (I assume that you have complained to the co-op repeatedly, to no avail; if not, start complaining in writing). The facts that the neighbor's apartment is sponsor-owned is not an issue for you or the co-op--the sponsor, as the owner of that apartment, is responsible for nuisant conditions that emanate from it.
It is extremely neighborly and courteous to offer to purchase an air purifer for your neighbor. However, is you are unable to resolve the issue directly with your neighbor and the problem continues, I recommend that you notify the managing agent and board about the problem. The Coop/Condo has a responsibility to resolve this problem on your behalf.
Good luck discussing this with your neighbor, Sally! Offering the air purifier sounds like a good approach, and hopefully your neighbor will be responsive to your efforts.
But, as always, mediation is available if you want or need support when having this conversation.
Services are available free in NYC. You're welcome to call the Manhattan Mediation Center with questions 212.577.1740 Ext. 128 or visit www.safehorizon.org/mediation.
I feel so bad for you. It is a horrible problem to have, and one I struggled with for years. I tore my walls apart, fully insulating between the smoker's apartment and mine, I insulated every outlet, every lightswitch. I permanently had my heat in that room shut off and the through-wall unit completely sealed up and blocked. Nothing helped. I did buy air purifiers for my neighbor - 2 of them, of his choice. I filled my own apartment with air purifiers. I had an Austin Air, one specifically formulated for cigarette smoke (don't remember the brand) and one Ionic breeze. I used volcanic lava and Zeolite air fresheners that were supposed to absorb odors. I commissioned an airflow study to test positive and negative pressure to determine how we could change the situation. Seriously, when I say I tried everything, I mean I tried everything.
The airflow study yielded no useful information whatsoever, but I still thought that was the core of the problem. I ended up moving out of that apartment, but recently had another smoke issue in a new building. I tried to decrease the negative air pressure (outflow) in our apartment by covering up our air vents in bathrooms at night when the smoke was the worst. I also asked my building to specifically clean the outflow air vents in the apartment of the suspected smoker (which they did). That would increase the smoker's negative pressure, therefore pulling air into his apartment, and it would decrease my negative pressure, making air more likely to flow out of my apartment, as opposed to being pulled in. This seems to have helped. I hope something like this can help you. You have my deepest sympathy.
I covered my own vents with magnetic vent covers. They are cheap and can be cut to size. I bought them at Bed Bath and Beyond. Good luck!
I had a similar problem. In addiiton to smoking on the floor below, they would also smoke in the hallway. It was horrible and my apartment reaked. We live in a rental, and couldn't make any changes to our actual apartment. We tried to confront our neighbors nicely about the problem (even offering air purifiers), and they didn't change anything. Our landlord didn't do much either.
If you have this problem and cannot get help from your neighbors, co-op board, etc., Believe it or not. I would actually suggest called the health department tobacco bureau via 311. They were so helpful in getting our landlord to do something about this problem. They are very familiar with anti smoking laws and helped us convince our landlord to stop these people.
Sorry for the horrible typos!!!
Unfortunately, this is a common problem in multiple dwellings. I work as a Resident Manager in a Luxury High Rise, and let me tell you after the resident who is being bothered by this no one is more bothered then your Resident Manager/Superintendent, for the simple reason is that you come to us and seek our help/advise and we REALLY want to help you find a solution to this issue so the standard of your quality of life is lowered. I have had many situations like this in the past. What I do is, I instruct my handyman to go the both units the smoker and non smoker and do the following work ofcourse with both parties agreeing.
1) Remove all electrical face plates and spray foam insulation on the inside. Such as Great Stuff- by Down 12oz Great stuff Gaps and Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant. Could be found in any Home Depot or local hardware store.
2) Remove all exhasut/fresh air supply grills usually loacted in bathrooms and kitchens in newly erected buildings. Cut to size of the grill a piece of charcoal filter. It will filter any odors.
3) if the rooms are carpeted ofcourse use your discretion, pull back carpet and use a latex based caulking and caulk the entire perimeter of the room where the wall meets the floors to seal any gaps. If rooms have baseboard caulk the top and the bottom part of the baseboard again to seal any gaps.
4) Circuit breaker panels, caulk around the cover with latex caulking.
5) Stoves, dishwaser and refrigerators with water dispensers should be pulled back and apply Great Stuff Foam Sealant to seal any gaps.
I like to think of this as the first line of defense. The affected apartment(s) and the accused I believe and personally have experienced that both would appreciate this course of action ALOT more then running to the board of the managing agent, especially if we are able satisfy both sides. But keep in mind the way I run my building is my building manager is ALWAYS in the loop so he/she knows whats going on especially when a residents(s) quality of life is infringed upon. But also keep in mind as a smoker in his/her apartment they do have to properly vent thier unit. So when this issue does arise alot of consideration is needed. If all still fails then perhaps you then do need to get the Managing Agent involved. Good Luck!!