How do you get rid of cigarette smells?

[melissastarr]

I'm having a big problem in my apartment lately and I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I do not smoke as I have severe asthma attacks when around cigarette smoke. But the person who lives below me, who speaks no English (I only mention that because that means I can't discuss the issue with him) chain smokes in his bedroom, which causes my bedroom to smell like cigarette smoke, too. At this point I wash down my walls daily in hopes of getting rid of the smell and I have to wash my bedding daily to get the cigarette smell out of it so that I can breathe. I'm not able to move at this time due to my lease and the management is completely unreasonable. So I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to keep my bedroom from smelling like cigarette smoke.

Melissa

[melissastarr]

I'm having a big problem in my apartment lately and I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I do not smoke as I have severe asthma attacks when around cigarette smoke. But the person who lives below me, who speaks no English (I only mention that because that means I can't discuss the issue with him) chain smokes in his bedroom, which causes my bedroom to smell like cigarette smoke, too. At this point I wash down my walls daily in hopes of getting rid of the smell and I have to wash my bedding daily to get the cigarette smell out of it so that I can breathe. I'm not able to move at this time due to my lease and the management is completely unreasonable. So I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to keep my bedroom from smelling like cigarette smoke.

Melissa

[Guest]

Febreeze! It works wonders!

Is there no carpeting down? How is the smell getting through to your apartment?

[Trailscout]

Melissa, chances are that a chainsmoker would not relinquish smoking in the comfort of his own bedroom.

I am not a lawyer, but I play one on this forum. I think you might have legal grounds for breaking the lease.

So, he's not moving, apartment managment is not budging, hmmm... looks like you are the only one willing to change. And change you must because of your health and the endless aggravation. There are air cleaner devices out there that trap smoke. One good enough to work should set you back $200-$300.

I moved out of an apartment for other reasons. There was a terrible noise problem. I had to break a lease, but it was close enough to the end of the lease that I didn't mind the extra fee in order to have a peaceful night's sleep.

How much would it cost you to break the lease? Is the penalty the same right up to the end of the lease, or is there a sliding scale?

Please keep us apprised of the situation. I can sympathize.

[Nu]

Too bad.
Some ideas:

Tape over all vents, get air conditioning and heat from portable units.

Seal up door entrances at bottom and sides.

Advise the building owner that this is a health risk to you and other tenants. Request that the
owner fix things.
Otherwise, with a doctor's certificate; you may be able to break the lease and move.

Good luck.

[melissastarr]

We have hardwood floors here that, it would appear, aren't very thick. I hear EVERYTHING from upstairs and from downstairs and I'm sure they hear me. I do have throw rugs here and there but not wall to wall carpeting. I'll try febreze and see if that helps. Where can I get an air cleaner device, as Trailscout mentioned?

My lease isn't up until next February and the way it works is I have to pay all of the rent until that time, it's not just a fine. If it were a $200 fine or something I'd be out of here. But I pay over $600 a month for this place and to pay that much between now and next February is a bit steep, especially as I'd have to be paying rent at another place or pay a mortgage. Gad zooks!

Melissa

[Nu]

Some other ideas:

Appeal to a government office (if there is one)that mediates tenant/landlord issues.

Approach the owner indicating that there is a serious health issue on the air flow that could result in a huge liability problem for this owner.
Liability insurance is expensive and they might address the problem before any potential claim hits them.

Suggest to the owner that this tenant is causing severe smoke damage to his suite and it would be in his best interest to speak to the tenant or evict him, if needed.

Find out if other nearby tenants have a similar problem. There is strength in numbers.
Approach the management or owners as a group.
Perhaps, a petition signed by tenants would indicate that something needs to be done.

[Trailscout]

Melissa,
Follow this link for a product review of air purifying machines:

Allergy Buyers Club

Here are a couple of others to look at:
IonizAir Silent Air Purifier

Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier

[Naturist Mark]

Melissa,
If you do end up having to buy air purifiers, or spend money on other remediations, you can probably deduct the cost from your rent: Repair and Deduct

This comes from the Tenant's Rights section of Philadelphia's Tenants Action Group website.

-Mark

[NuTex]

Oh I'm so sorry Melissa. I can relate. My wife is very asthmatic and I'm some too. I certainly can feel your pain.

Trailscout may have the best idea. Also, I wonder if there is some form of woodsealer.

I asked my wife and she said that it may be coming through your air vents. She said see if you could move to another unit. Or see about a filter on the vent.

I hope you find a solution.
NuTex

[Stevedaoust]

File a complaint at the HOUSING COMMISSION. Landlord or not, as long as a Doctor says NO SMOKE it sticks. Much like carpet allergies or mold allergies, your lungs could give a flying hoot if you're being nice. You'll have to go to a Doctor for documented proof, maybe even one they pick but stand up for your rights and push back HARD. At $600 p.m., why blow smoke....What's the landlord going to do if you complain, kick you out???.....then you sue for your deposit back in small claims.

[Rex]

I agree with previous posters.

First a letter from your doctor. Tell him/her to be specific, because it may go to court.

Keep that letter in a safe place. Use copies to support your situation.

Give a copy to your landlord, and say that, FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR HEALTH, [no other reason], the situation has to be addressed.

If necessary, [and it probably will be], complain to the appropriate govt dept[s].

If still no quick action, go to the media.

I've never been in the same situation as you are currently in, but I've followed a similar course of action, on a number of occasions, about various issues.

The following may give you some ideas.

In 1983, before commercial airlines became totally smoke-free, I was on Singapore airport, changing planes en route from England to Australia.

I always stipulated "non-smoking", but I was told there were no non-smoking seats available, on the flight to Australia.

I asked to speak to a person with some authority, and grossly overstated to him my reaction to tobacco smoke.

I told him I was very allergic to tobacco smoke, and if I was forced to breathe it, I would quickly start coughing, violently and uncontrollably.

I would then vomit, violently and uncontrollably, until I collapsed on the floor.

They would have to radio ahead for an ambulance, maybe have to make an emergency landing. And you can bet your life the media would get onto it.

Guess what happened. They almost immediately found me a seat in the non-smoking section.

The moral of the story. Nobody wants trouble, particularly if it could also include paying out money, and/or getting bad publicity.

[Guest]

Good for you Rex. It's all in how it's presented.

[Guest]

Melissa,

There are some good electronic air purifiers that are expensive, but seem to work well. They attract particles to a metal grid...you may have seen the adds...

It might be worth putting a note into the managers office just to build a case if you want to get out of the lease before February...

[naturalmanwa]

As a former landlord, I always preferred non-smoking tenants as many people are opposed to living in a unit that had smokers and it is always harder to clean. You do have rights as a tenant and shouldn't have to purchase things that may or may not keep the smoke out or filter it.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Make as much noise with gov't agencies and possibly an attorney as you can. Perhaps they will evict him or let you move without penalty. Good luck!