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Cigerette smell in communal area of flat



Hi,
I'm in the middle of buying a flat, and the second visit all went well apart from the strong smell of cigarette smoke in the communal hallway. It is very small and it's all fire doors, so very little ventilation. I had hoped it was a one off thing, but since it's both visits it must be a constant issue. I also noticed that the floor the flat in on has large no smoking signs where the ground the 1st floor do not, so it must be an issue here someone has complained about before (only 4 flats on my floor). The windows in the communal hallway were open and it still smelt terrible.
Fortunately the smell does not seem to get into the flat, but it is very strong when I leave and enter the flat. Is this a dealbreaker, or is there anything I can do that might mitigate this before I buy i.e. raise the issue to the management company, or even it having an affect on the price? My main issue is my family coming over, it's not nice to have kids exposed to that, so the price isn't the issue here.
Thanks
Comments
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snowqueen555 said:
Hi,
I'm in the middle of buying a flat, and the second visit all went well apart from the strong smell of cigarette smoke in the communal hallway. It is very small and it's all fire doors, so very little ventilation. I had hoped it was a one off thing, but since it's both visits it must be a constant issue. I also noticed that the floor the flat in on has large no smoking signs where the ground the 1st floor do not, so it must be an issue here someone has complained about before (only 4 flats on my floor). The windows in the communal hallway were open and it still smelt terrible.
Fortunately the smell does not seem to get into the flat, but it is very strong when I leave and enter the flat. Is this a dealbreaker, or is there anything I can do that might mitigate this before I buy i.e. raise the issue to the management company, or even it having an affect on the price? My main issue is my family coming over, it's not nice to have kids exposed to that, so the price isn't the issue here.
Thanks
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I'm aware it's not a crime, but I was wonderingYou'd need to identify which flat it's coming from - but tbh it's not a crime to smoke in your own flat/property so not much you can do really...
1) Can the leasehold for the building prohibit smoking inside someone's flat,
2) If it's a rented property, is it possible the tenancy agreement prohibits it?
3) A smoker should have a duty for smoke smell to stay contained in their own flat?
End of the day I will not be able to solve the issue at this moment, it's whether it is enough of a dealbreaker to not buy the flat. I've been looking for such a long time so this is a major downer.0 -
So very sorry to read this, what a great shame, I don't think you can continue the purchase and be happy? You will want to find out who it is breaking the rules and start off with an unpleasant relationship with the neighbour who is smoking.£216 saved 24 October 20141
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snowqueen555 said:
I'm aware it's not a crime, but I was wonderingYou'd need to identify which flat it's coming from - but tbh it's not a crime to smoke in your own flat/property so not much you can do really...
1) Can the leasehold for the building prohibit smoking inside someone's flat,
2) If it's a rented property, is it possible the tenancy agreement prohibits it?
3) A smoker should have a duty for smoke smell to stay contained in their own flat?
End of the day I will not be able to solve the issue at this moment, it's whether it is enough of a dealbreaker to not buy the flat. I've been looking for such a long time so this is a major downer.
If the smell in the communal area seriously bothers you, I suggest you don't purchase.4 -
It could well be that someone is smoking in the communal area, which the management company should be dealing with as it's illegal. I'd say it's unlikely that a strong cigarette smell is coming from inside the property based on the picture of the setup I've got in my head. People don't usually smoke right next to their door in flats so I'm thinking it's unlikely to end up causing the communal area to smell so much.
Either way, unless the landlord of the flat is particularly anti smoking, can't see them prohibiting smoking in the flat. Whatever you think of smoking, the risk to you from the smell from someone having smoked there earlier in the day are 0 or virtually 0. Second hand smoke is a slow killer, but the smell isn't gonna do you any harm. It might just be unpleasant for you.
Just a thought, but maybe the seller is smoking in the hallway so they don't make the flat smell of smoke? In which case, if you buy the flat, there'd be no smoking anyway?0 -
If the smell bothers you on each visit then do not buy the flat as you will be exposed to it everyday.
If it doesn't bother you too much you could install air fresherers to mask the smell, but obviously you will still be aware of it.
Children being exposed to it on occasional visits are unlikely to suffer harm/3 -
SQueen, do you know if the smell is coming from a flat, or is the person smoking in the communal area?Either way, it's hellish!But, if the person goes into the communal area to light up, then I'd have thought it very likely that the Freeholder could counter this. Worth asking?If the smell is just oozing out into the hall, then could a plug-in freshener be fitted to counter it? Galling to have to do this, but just a thought.1
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WIAWSNB said:SQueen, do you know if the smell is coming from a flat, or is the person smoking in the communal area?Either way, it's hellish!But, if the person goes into the communal area to light up, then I'd have thought it very likely that the Freeholder could counter this. Worth asking?If the smell is just oozing out into the hall, then could a plug-in freshener be fitted to counter it? Galling to have to do this, but just a thought.gwynlas said:If the smell bothers you on each visit then do not buy the flat as you will be exposed to it everyday.1
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snowqueen555 said:WIAWSNB said:SQueen, do you know if the smell is coming from a flat, or is the person smoking in the communal area?Either way, it's hellish!But, if the person goes into the communal area to light up, then I'd have thought it very likely that the Freeholder could counter this. Worth asking?If the smell is just oozing out into the hall, then could a plug-in freshener be fitted to counter it? Galling to have to do this, but just a thought.gwynlas said:If the smell bothers you on each visit then do not buy the flat as you will be exposed to it everyday.0
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Emmia said:snowqueen555 said:WIAWSNB said:SQueen, do you know if the smell is coming from a flat, or is the person smoking in the communal area?Either way, it's hellish!But, if the person goes into the communal area to light up, then I'd have thought it very likely that the Freeholder could counter this. Worth asking?If the smell is just oozing out into the hall, then could a plug-in freshener be fitted to counter it? Galling to have to do this, but just a thought.gwynlas said:If the smell bothers you on each visit then do not buy the flat as you will be exposed to it everyday.
Personally, would only proceed if you are accepting the smell of smoke will continue. Our MA is very selective over who's complaints they deal with (mainly one crazy tenant who is a pain to everyone) and if anyone else complains about things then they get a quote for how much enforcement action will take and asked if they want to continue with it or not.
It may be possible if you buy it that you do work out the cause and find a solution that maybe lessens it if not removes it but you also might not hence assume the current condition prevails (and may even be worse at different times.0
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