Smell of cannabis coming from next door into my house

CitizenX

The house next to me is a three storey Victorian terrace that has been converted into 3 flats. A new tenant moved into the ground floor flat in August and since then there has been a very strong smell of cannabis in my bathroom! It's so strong that if I don't keep the bathroom door shut, the smell drifts through the house. While the weather was warm I could clear the smell by leaving the bathroom window open, but this is becoming a problem now that the seasons are changing and I need to heat the bathroom ( it's a cold room anyway).
 
My guess is that the tenant is either smoking or growing in the kitchen or bathroom at the rear end of the flat - there are no windows in these rooms. They have covered their front window and the glass of the front door with a sheet and there is a small security camera angled toward the front door.

There is no smell outside when there is a smell in my bathroom and there doesn't seem to be any vents on the exterior of the building ( the only flats that have visible vents are the middle floor flats).  The conversion to flats was done circa1997 - and I was wondering if it's likely that the ground floor flats vent into the ceiling/floor space and that's why it's coming into my bathroom? 

I've lived here for 20 years and never had an issue with any smells coming  before until this tenant moved in. 

Not sure how to approach this - I have no problem with him smoking, I just don't want it in my house ! Any advice ?

born_again

have a word with them, or see if police are interested.

teaselMay

It doesn't sound likely but just check there are no hypericum (st john's wort) bushes that have appeared under your window. My next door do, or more so did a few years ago, smoke pot, one summer it became quite the dominant smell front and back of my adjoining garden (terrace). I initially thought they were smoking more for some reason, but it had become quite unpleasant. And then I happened to pull out a hypericum bush from further up the garden, it smelled just like pot. Having then pulled out the rest of them front and back the smell has gone completely apart from the odd evening which I suspect is only on a par with how much I disturb them in other ways (they're good friends)

CitizenX

teaselMay said:

It doesn't sound likely but just check there are no hypericum (st john's wort) bushes that have appeared under your window. My next door do, or more so did a few years ago, smoke pot, one summer it became quite the dominant smell front and back of my adjoining garden (terrace). I initially thought they were smoking more for some reason, but it had become quite unpleasant. And then I happened to pull out a hypericum bush from further up the garden, it smelled just like pot. Having then pulled out the rest of them front and back the smell has gone completely apart from the odd evening which I suspect is only on a par with how much I disturb them in other ways (they're good friends)

There aren't any plants outside unfortunately. It's definitely cannabis and the smell is strongest close to the floor of my bathroom where the plumbing for the toilet has been boxed in. 

teaselMay

In that case I'd have a gentle friendly chat and see whether between you you can stop the smoke getting into your place, it might just mean something needs sealing or their place better ventilating outside

CitizenX

born_again said:

have a word with them, or see if police are interested.

born_again said:

have a word with them, or see if police are interested.

I'm a bit nervous about doing this to be honest. I'm female and live on my own and I'm not sure the police would bother to do anything.
At this point I'm more concerned that there might be a structural issue with the building - I've never had smells coming in that way before and can't believe previous tenants haven't been smokers in the past, so has something structural happened?

teaselMay

Approach it like that, (I'm also single and female), knock be friendly explain that you've never had smoke coming through before and so has sealant failed or something fallen off? They're likely decent people and will want to not disturb you too.

ThisIsWeird

CitizenX said:

There aren't any plants outside unfortunately. It's definitely cannabis and the smell is strongest close to the floor of my bathroom where the plumbing for the toilet has been boxed in. 

Picture of your bathroom, CX, showing the boxed-in areas?

Very good chance that, after you open the boxing, a can of spray-foam will seal any exposed gaps.

How DIYish are you?

teaselMay

Horrible stuff but agree if it's seeping through it may well do the job. Any foam that ends up where you don't want it leave it until it's dry and peel off, speaking from bitter experience, and wear gloves!

Albermarle

CitizenX said:

born_again said:

have a word with them, or see if police are interested.

born_again said:

have a word with them, or see if police are interested.

I'm a bit nervous about doing this to be honest. I'm female and live on my own and I'm not sure the police would bother to do anything.
At this point I'm more concerned that there might be a structural issue with the building - I've never had smells coming in that way before and can't believe previous tenants haven't been smokers in the past, so has something structural happened?

I do not think the police would be interested if they are not generally making a nuisance of themselves otherwise.

TELLIT01

From the OPs comment about covered up windows and door the occupant may well be doing more than just smoking the stuff.  They could try calling the line where you can report issues anonymously.  The police won't go charging in mob handed on the basis of the call, but may take a closer look.