Removing cigarette odors from flat of non smoker

Purchaseruk

Hi There,
Moved into a loft conversion flat within a terrace house that has been newly converted into 5 separate flats. I am on the very top with 2 flats underneath me (& the other 2 under them). 1 of the flats under me smokes constantly & the smell is awful - especially on weekends & when the weather is bad.

Because the doors to all the flats have quite large gaps underneath them, the cigarette stench is leaching out of their flat & stagnating up the top of the staircase / landing where mine is. Because I have skylights - I can only open them when the weather is ok / not too windy, but this seems to create a vaccum effect because a draft is present & it seems to suck in even more of the cigarette smell into my flat.

It's reached the stage that when I do washing - the clothes end up drying smelling of stale smoke - which as a non smoker with allergies is just not acceptable!

I'm starting to lay out a towel along the front door in an attempt to seal the gap, hoping this will stop the smell from entering. I can't use those plug in air fresheners, & have been considering buying an air purifier from argos or the like, but it's an expense I don't really want to fork out for at this stage.

So was wondering if anyone else had any other suggestions on how to eliminate the cigarette smell ongoing, in my flat?

Thanks

beer_tins

It sounds like a draught excluder is your best bet. You can get various types to go round your whole door frame. If you are on good terms with the neighbours, maybe explain the problem and offer to get them one too?

frugallass

Our neighbour in the downstairs flat smokes and its amazing how the stench carries from one flat to another - first of all the entrance hallway stinks so I'm constantly spraying air freshener and have even put down shake and vac in the hope he will get the hint.

The other problem however is harder to sort - I have a small room in which the washing machine and hot water tank sits and because it is so warm I dry my washing in there. There is a terrible stench of fags in that 1 room and it's making my clean clothes smell disgusting. Not sure how it's getting in there but it is.

We have different landlords and I'm not sure if he is permitted to smoke in his flat or not.

I don't think there is much I can really do about it so sympathise with your predicament.

Purchaseruk

I haven't actually met the people downstairs yet.
However just outside my front door is a window, that I open most mornings to get some fresh air into the staircase lannding, which I close before leaving for work, but this morning one of them has not only shut it BUT also locked it - which there aren't any keys left out by the landlord.
They are standard (new) double glazed windows & the entire house has them fitted - so was wondering if they're fairly easy to 'unpick' open??

Otherwise its a phone call to the landlord to request keys for both this window & my flat's window locks, as they haven't left copies for mine either.

I have no idea why they would've walked up the staircase leading to my flat only - purely to close the window this morning (??) but it's quite !!!!ed me off! They've done it a few times now.

I might call the landlord anyway to enquire about the smoking issue regarding lease agreements, but from recollection - I don't think my agreement states anything about not smoking in the premises & we share the same landlord.

Where can the draught excluder be purchased from? The gap between the floor & bottom of the door is pretty large!

sooz

if you have all new double glazed windows, usually all the keys for all the windows should be the same. Ask your landlord for keys to your windows, or you can normally buy standard ones cheaply from locksmiths.

You might also be able to lock the window open...some new windows have this setting so they can be kept secure but allow a breeze.

Is there somewhere in the corridor that you could plug in an air freshener too?

You should find draught excluders anywhere that sells curtains, or you can make your own. They look like this

However, since you say your flat is a new conversion, I'd contact the landlord about the problem. To have passed building regs, I would have thought that all doors should be very close fitting to prevent the spread of fire. Big gaps under all the doors do not sound good!

Purchaseruk

To be honest, I'm not sure how legitimate this whole house to flats conversion has been. The council doesn't even know the flat exsists, hence am waiting for them to band it before I can start paying council tax. None of the utility suppliers know who my metre's are with - even with seriel numbers!
Both the communal doors (main front & secondary hallway door) to the flats have safety locks on the interior side - which just seems wrong on communal shared doors?? Means if they're faulty or someone just decides to click it in place, that people are locked out of the property. And I think they're also meant to be spring action / self closing doors under fire regulations (? not sure) - but none of them are...
So yeah - for the time being I guess getting the big gap between the door frame & the floor covered to stop the stale smoke entering my flat is biggest priority.
Anyone know where I can start looking up info about uk building regulations so I have a better understanding when speaking to the landlord?

ka7e

I expect the smoker downstairs is closing the window because they are getting a draught under their door!

Seriously, you are living in a flat on the top floor of a house with no automatic closers on doors, locked windows - without keys, and a heavy smoker below you.

What are your options in the event of a house fire? Are there fire extinguishers on every floor? Is there a designated fire escape? Smoke alarms and emergency lighting?

http://www.firekills.gov.uk/renting/04.htm

paddy's_mum

Stop being nice .. starting being an awkward cuss who is frightened to death of being trapped and burned to death in a housefire caused directly by a stupid, inconsiderate smoker and a landlord who doesn't give a cuss!

In your shoes, I'd be onto the Local Authority first thing in the morning. Your safety is paramount and I am beyond sure that there are stringent rules governing someone's greed ("the council doesn't even know the flats exist")!!

brummybloke

paddy's_mum wrote: »

Stop being nice .. starting being an awkward cuss who is frightened to death of being trapped and burned to death in a housefire caused directly by a stupid, inconsiderate smoker and a landlord who doesn't give a cuss!

In your shoes, I'd be onto the Local Authority first thing in the morning. Your safety is paramount and I am beyond sure that there are stringent rules governing someone's greed ("the council doesn't even know the flats exist")!!

how is the smoker being stupid and inconsiderate?

they are smoking in THEIR house!!!

it does however seem that you need to check what certificates of safety the landlord has, also i thought hat all doors in buildings like this had to be fire doors which are normally gapless and thicker.

if you live in a flat then there are going to be some consessions you are going to have to make, that is why it is cheaper than a house all for yourself.

i used to smoke and havent for over a year now so i know the smell is not a pleasant one, however, what if it were someone eating lots of spicy foods? it would also be a stinky smell, would you want them to eat something else?

fitorbust

This is slightly off topic but has anyone any ideas on how to get the smell of smoke out of clean clothes without washing them all again?
We have just stayed for 2 weeks in Las Vegas with some friends who are HEAVY smokers. We did wash everything before we came home but every thing smells asit comes out of the suitcase....would oust help or am I going to have to wash everything again??
Thanks for any tips.....
Lesley

frugallass

I'd hang them outside on the line