Advice - Smoke in communal area of flat

Emma199018

Hi

Looking for advice please:
I rent privately in a block of 9 flats. These flats are a mixture of private renters and council tenants. My 12 month tenancy agreement started in August. Landlords seem great so far, they have a management agreement with the estate agents so everything’s dealt with by them.

My problem is, I’m on the ground floor, building is 3 floors (3 flats on each floor). For a while I keep smelling cigarette smoke AND marijuana smoke smell. I don’t know whether it’s from a flat or because it’s in communal area but where I’m on the ground floor the smell from the communal stairway comes into my flat! I’ve emailed the estate agents now to complain and see what can be done.

I’m looking for advice on where I stand, it’s depressing coming home to somewhere I pay money for and it stinks! I know it’s hard as I don’t know who it is but some days the smell is so strong!

Looking for advice tenenacy agreement wise how do I stand/my landlords obligations etc. Any experience would be greatly received!

Thank you!

jonnygee2

Why don't you find out where its coming from and ask the people to stop?

davidmcn

Apart from the fact that I can't think of any obligation the landlord has to sort it out - I'm not sure what in practice you'd want them to do anyway? Given you live there and your landlord doesn't, you'd be best to spend your time figuring out where the smell is coming from. You can try nicely asking your smokey neighbours to stop, but if that doesn't work, your landlord won't have any more clout.

t0rt0ise

It could be from outside. My house smells of weed sometimes when the people at the back sit on their flat roof smoking. There is a fair distance between them and us. Luckily my staircases are at the back and it is so strong there but only there.

G_M

Almost impossible for a landlord to dictate or influence how other residents live their lives.


The LL could agree to let you surrender your tenancy early (assuming that's what you want) but he does not have to.


The building's freeholder (or the freeholder-appointed management company) could enforce any relevant terms of the leases in the buildings (eg not to cause a nuisance to neighbours; not to comit criminal acts), but your landlord (leaseholder) would have to convince the freeholder to do this.


Finally - criminal activity falls within the remit of the police.........

Comms69

With that said- people partaking in their own home isn’t likely to be a priority.

Tom74

If it is in the communal area or near your window, then what about asking the landlord to put up a sign there saying No Smoking? (Or put up one yourself when there is no one around.)
You can't do anything if it is in neighbours' flats. You could perhaps try insulating your front door better to stop the smell coming in.
I live in a house next to neighbours who smoke - in summer I have just had to learn to keep the window closed sometimes!