Why can I smell next door smoking in my house?!

specialK

Recently got new neighbours and we have started to smell them smoking. It is coming through to our landing upstairs

When we bought the house a few years ago, it was all replastered. I am thinking maybe there are gaps behind the skirting boards upstairs?? Would me putting a sealant or filler behind them, then adding beading stop this? I don't know what we can do, without knocking the wall down and rebuilding it?

I have had a look online and found some people to say fill in any holes or gaps, then others saying there could be crack in the brickwork that need to be filled in? Surely with a recent replaster, this should not be necessary!?

I am hoping a bit of gloop and beading will suffice, don't want to spend the Christmas and new Year smelling things that are not from my house!! :mad:

ariba10

We have the same problem.

I think it may be coming via the attic.

Happychappy

specialK wrote: »

Recently got new neighbours and we have started to smell them smoking. It is coming through to our landing upstairs

When we bought the house a few years ago, it was all replastered. I am thinking maybe there are gaps behind the skirting boards upstairs?? Would me putting a sealant or filler behind them, then adding beading stop this? I don't know what we can do, without knocking the wall down and rebuilding it?

I have had a look online and found some people to say fill in any holes or gaps, then others saying there could be crack in the brickwork that need to be filled in? Surely with a recent replaster, this should not be necessary!?

I am hoping a bit of gloop and beading will suffice, don't want to spend the Christmas and new Year smelling things that are not from my house!! :mad:

They aren't Vietnamese are they ? Haven't noticed bright lights in the attic and curtains drawn most the day:rotfl:

specialK

Oh no!! Really annoying isn't it

I have actually thought of sealing the attic door somehow....only I don't like heights lol I know smoke rises, but I don't know why it decides to come through to me!!

I will try anything to try and stop this happening, I am going through some candles!

specialK

Happychappy wrote: »

They aren't Vietnamese are they ? Haven't noticed bright lights in the attic and curtains drawn most the day:rotfl:

LOL!! No they are not Vietnamese and they have a window up there!

I have even snuck out in the dead of night to check

keystone

You need to discuss it with them. If anything the onus is on them to either find and plug the gaps on their side or stop doing it in the house. They are creating the nuisance not you. But confrontation will only get their backs up. A pleasant chat will do.

Cheers

withabix

I can't stand smoking, however it is not the neighbour's fault that smoke from their house is somehow getting in to the OP's.

It is likely that the problem was caused by whoever did the work on the OP's house before they bought it.

There could be many reasons - including vents in the eaves etc being blocked with loft insulation, especially if it was done by one of the many cowboy 'free insulation' operators.

Lofts may be poorly separated - it sounds like next door has a loft conversion? Maybe contact local authority building control to see if it is an approved conversion? It might not be.

specialK

Ahh Keystone, this would be my last resort. They are only renting, so would not entertain doing anything about it themselves. Their Landlord is not the best and it would be easier all round if I could try something myself first.

In an ideal world, a little chat could work wonders....I don't have much faith that this is one of them scenarios. I suppose I could let it drop into conversation if I see them, but I doubt they would get it.

Another angle to look at though, I could start any work quite loudly and hope they ask what I am doing

keystone

withabix wrote: »

I can't stand smoking, however it is not the neighbour's fault that smoke from their house is somehow getting in to the OP's.

Well it is once the OP has alerted them to what is happening. You can't entirely absolve the neighbour but perhaps thats not what you intended to suggest.

It is likely that the problem was caused by whoever did the work on the OP's house before they bought it.

Or something thats been done to the next door property. It doesn't have to be building work either. If OPs neighbour has taken up the carpets it'll be going down through the floorboards across and up.

We had the same problem with next door here. No conversions, no out of the ordinary building works. It ws coming through from 2nd bedroom to second bedroom. As our second bedroom accommodates a small child (well she was small at the time) I knocked on the door. Between the two of us (well me mostly bit of a chocolate fireguard he is) we couldn't find out where it was getting through. The solution was they stoppped smoking in that room. Quite amicable.


Cheers

specialK

Withabix, thank you. I have myself got ridiculous lagging in my loft!! Have not got round to getting up there yet, I need to for the storage!

That is a good idea about speaking to the LA as my other neighbour has told me that years ago, the previous owners threw an extension up....over the services, without any planning! She seemed adamant that the services where changed because of this as they would not take it down. I did not argue with her as I was not witness to any of this, but I thought if you were given an order to take something down, you had to comply!? She told me a story of services being diverted to the street in front of the houses and them having to take up the floor of the extension? It all seemed rather bizarre and far fetched to be honest.

Maybe a chat with them, could shed light on this, as there should be records of it!

Thanks again, it's something I had not thought of

keystone

SK. I take your point (post 8). But if its only getting in in one place on their side thats the bit that needs identifying. It could be coming out in five or six places on your side. You block two up and still get it.. But who actually knows. Its easier if they are just nice neighbours and stop in the room causing the problem. Think of it this way. If it was Black Sabbath or Def Leppard at 1.00 am how would you be dealing with it?

Cheers