Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community

Topic Author
Phylicia Adams
3 years 10 months ago #45571 by Phylicia Adams
I have a tenant with serious health issues that has made several complaints accusing his neighbor of smoking in the apartment. Let's call the neighbor Mary Jane. I've conducted inspections of Mary Jane's apartment and haven't found any evidence of smoking - no cigarette butts or ashtrays. However, the apartment smells like smoke and Mary Jane emphatically says she doesn't smoke in her apartment and that the smoke odor lingers in her clothes which causes her apartment to smell like cigarettes. I've contacted my attorney and he says that no judge is going to take action because I don't have proof that Mary Jane smokes in her apartment. I contacted an air quality company and they said that they can only detect smoke if someone is actively smoking in the apartment while their equipment is present.

The tenant with the health issues says that I'm not protecting him and I'm allowing Mary Jane to smoke in her home. What more can I do to protect his health and to hold Mary Jane accountable to her lease agreement?
3 years 10 months ago #45571 by Phylicia Adams
Topic Author
Anonymous
3 years 9 months ago #45781 by Anonymous
Dear Phylicia Adams:

I would move the tenant with the health requirement to true smoke free building and not renew Mary Janes’ lease.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline L.E. real estate student at Reynolds College in Richmond, Virginia.
3 years 9 months ago #45781 by Anonymous
Topic Author
Julie Anderson
3 years 8 months ago #46712 by Julie Anderson
Replied by Julie Anderson on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
One of the biggest challenges I have too in a high rise. I love when neighbors send me photos and videos to help prove where it’s coming from but otherwise, we focus on community reminders and engagement.
3 years 8 months ago #46712 by Julie Anderson
Topic Author
CJ Harbin
3 years 8 months ago #46713 by CJ Harbin
As pot becomes legal in more and more states it will become harder to do anything about most police have been told to lessen on the pot enforcement. And honesty pot heads don’t really hurt anyone or damage a lot (don’t know your property situation) as for the main cause , your a non smoking property, maybe pass out flyers to remind residents of that, however if they aren’t smoking inside the unit it doesn’t really go against policy
3 years 8 months ago #46713 by CJ Harbin
Topic Author
Tina Asher
3 years 8 months ago #46714 by Tina Asher
We are a no smoking community as well. We have a strict $400 fine in place. Pot is still Illegal in our state as well. If they get 2 violations it is a 14 day notice to vacte
3 years 8 months ago #46714 by Tina Asher
Topic Author
Pamela Luttrull Germer
3 years 8 months ago #46715 by Pamela Luttrull Germer
Replied by Pamela Luttrull Germer on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
It does go against policy. We are a NON SMOKING property. You must not smoke inside your apartment and no smoking on our property common areas. I have a new construction mid rise and am smelling it from a particular unit in the hallway. It’s super embarrassing when touring.
3 years 8 months ago #46715 by Pamela Luttrull Germer
Topic Author
Miles Scruggs
3 years 8 months ago #46716 by Miles Scruggs
Replied by Miles Scruggs on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Also you don’t need to allow smoking anywhere at all on your properties. You don’t need to rent to smokers and if you find out people smoke you don’t need to renew their leases.
3 years 8 months ago #46716 by Miles Scruggs
Topic Author
Heather Fleeger
3 years 8 months ago #46717 by Heather Fleeger
Replied by Heather Fleeger on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Better check local fair housing laws before you do this. Not sure what they are for some but this is a great idea if it doesn’t pose a risk!
3 years 8 months ago #46717 by Heather Fleeger
Topic Author
Miles Scruggs
3 years 8 months ago #46718 by Miles Scruggs
Replied by Miles Scruggs on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Smoking isn’t a protected class.
3 years 8 months ago #46718 by Miles Scruggs
Topic Author
Heather Fleeger
3 years 8 months ago #46719 by Heather Fleeger
Replied by Heather Fleeger on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
That’s AMAZING! I’m on the sales side of things now and it’s been awhile since I’ve been at a property, so I wasn’t sure. You know those laws can change DAILY
3 years 8 months ago #46719 by Heather Fleeger
Topic Author
Chip Ahlswede
3 years 8 months ago #46720 by Chip Ahlswede
Replied by Chip Ahlswede on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Keep in mind as marijuana becomes medicinally legalized - they can claim it’s their legal right to seek medical assistance for their disability and through the ADA you’re kind of hamstrung - also states are getting rid of income standards.
I should also point out this is happening in ca
3 years 8 months ago #46720 by Chip Ahlswede
Topic Author
Miles Scruggs
3 years 8 months ago #46721 by Miles Scruggs
Replied by Miles Scruggs on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
You need to spend some more time understanding the fundamentals of your industry.
1.). ADA doesn't address housing at all. The FHA is the body of law that addresses disabilities with housing on a federal level.
2.). What does smoking have to do with medical use of marijuana?? You do understand that there are multiple ways to consume it?? It is going to be hard to justify that smoking is a reasonable accommodation to the property, especially when you consider the health risks to others.
3.). Where exactly in CA are you prohibited from generally using income as a screening tool for a property right now?
3 years 8 months ago #46721 by Miles Scruggs
Topic Author
Lori Segura
3 years 8 months ago #46722 by Lori Segura
Replied by Lori Segura on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Even if a State says it's legal, federal law says it's illegal. On top of that saying it's medically necessary to smoke it, is not a valid reason to request a reasonable accommodation to still smoke on a non smoking property. There are other ways to get the benefits of marijuana. They can eat it. No smoking is no smoking. These remarks were from our attorney in Oregon, don't know about other states. I've issued non compliance notices and had them try the whole "it's medically necessary " and pointed out other ways they can get the same benefits from ingesting it, had them tell me I'll hear from their attorney and then never heard anything from their attorney but do now see them smoke it off property. It is a headache for sure for us all.
3 years 8 months ago #46722 by Lori Segura
Topic Author
Aaron Potier
3 years 8 months ago #46723 by Aaron Potier
Replied by Aaron Potier on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Send out a reminder of your zero smoking policy. That includes pot, legal or not. I live on a property and got tenants kicked out for smoking pot. My kids had to walk through the breezeway smelling that crap. That's illegal. They had to either stop or get the cops called. They were lease violated and sent packing. Then bio had to come after make ready to clear that odor
3 years 8 months ago #46723 by Aaron Potier
Topic Author
Chris Peterson
3 years 8 months ago #46724 by Chris Peterson
Replied by Chris Peterson on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
We started doing random inspections, and $250 fines if you're caught smoking. Funny part for us was the guy we caught smoking pot 3 times moved out and then we discovered he'd been chain smoking cigarettes in his unit for 2.5 years, zero complaints about cigarette smoke but constant complaints about the marijuana smoke! So strange!
3 years 8 months ago #46724 by Chris Peterson
Topic Author
Jan Davis Carson
3 years 8 months ago #46725 by Jan Davis Carson
Replied by Jan Davis Carson on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
It’s a lease violation and we remind remind residents constantly
3 years 8 months ago #46725 by Jan Davis Carson
Topic Author
Amy Kaser
3 years 8 months ago #46726 by Amy Kaser
I have residents sign a no smoking addendum. (Including pot) as part of the lease agreement when they move in, and if I get complaints I can enforce lease violations. But I’m in California so people do it all the time
3 years 8 months ago #46726 by Amy Kaser
Topic Author
Andrea Stenger Atwell
3 years 8 months ago #46727 by Andrea Stenger Atwell
Replied by Andrea Stenger Atwell on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Do fire extinguisher and filter inspections.
Just post on your community page this will take place the week of XX
3 years 8 months ago #46727 by Andrea Stenger Atwell
Topic Author
Brenda Andrews Sherrill
3 years 8 months ago #46728 by Brenda Andrews Sherrill
Replied by Brenda Andrews Sherrill on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
I’m in a mid rise too and we are smoke free as well. When we get a pot complaint, most times we totally know who it is. I just stick the no smoking addendum that they signed on the door. This usually does the trick.
3 years 8 months ago #46728 by Brenda Andrews Sherrill
Topic Author
Billy Aamodt
3 years 8 months ago #46729 by Billy Aamodt
Replied by Billy Aamodt on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
We've called the police. If they can tell where the smell is coming from, there's probable cause.
3 years 8 months ago #46729 by Billy Aamodt
Topic Author
Amy Gutierrez
3 years 8 months ago #46730 by Amy Gutierrez
Replied by Amy Gutierrez on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Just had a meeting this morning with our state's apartment association. Their stance is #1 if you are a non smoking community, it doesn't matter what they are smoking, that is grounds for a 21/30 and can lead to eviction if they don't stop. Stance #2 is even if your state has authorized recreational use of marijuana, it is still against federal law so if you have a drug and crime free addendum in your lease, you can evict for health and safety violation. Stance #3 is if your state has authorized medicinal use and you are non smoking, then you can still enforce that they must ingest a different way. It is not reasonable to ask to be allowed to smoke on a non smoking property. It is reasonable to ask to use the medicinal thc you have been perscribed in a non smoking way.
3 years 8 months ago #46730 by Amy Gutierrez
Topic Author
Anonymous
3 years 8 months ago #46731 by Anonymous
Smoking in general is a lease violation. But most properties (in Vegas at least) don’t want to enforce and evict for serial offenders..negatively affecting their occupancy %.
3 years 8 months ago #46731 by Anonymous
Topic Author
Katrina Rasmussen
3 years 8 months ago #46732 by Katrina Rasmussen
Replied by Katrina Rasmussen on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
A property I managed was non-smoking but we always had issues, particularly with marijuana. We treated all smokers the same, regardless what product they smoked, in strictly enforcing the policy. At least with pot, you can encourage them to ingest edibles instead, and smokers can get patches. We didn’t even allow vaping.
As far enforcement, I partnered with the American Lung Association and instead of levying “fines” that upset offenders even more, I made them pay donations to the ALA. we had a no-smoking addendum in the lease, so enforcement was an initial warning, with reminder that 2nd violation was a $250 required donation, 3rd violation was $500 and 4th was $1000 and we would pursue eviction. To prove they paid, they had to bring their receipt from the ALA
It really did help keep residents happy. People were less likely to offend again after the 2nd violation when they saw I was serious about enforcing the penalty, but they also weren’t as upset because the money wasn’t coming to the property as income, it was going to a good cause (and was tax deductible). I couldn’t legally enforce fines for smoking violations (CA), so it didn’t affect what could otherwise be viewed as ancillary income.
3 years 8 months ago #46732 by Katrina Rasmussen
Topic Author
Marty Lax
3 years 8 months ago #46733 by Marty Lax
If you are interested in an easy solution that doesn’t involve legal remedies, and trying to change behaviors... call your local Airemaster franchise. We have a product called “hemp be gone” which neutralizes the smell and is ongoing protection.
3 years 8 months ago #46733 by Marty Lax
Topic Author
Pj Bezpalko
3 years 8 months ago #46734 by Pj Bezpalko
Replied by Pj Bezpalko on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Sounds like a great time to do a/c filter changes for preventative maintenance !!
3 years 8 months ago #46734 by Pj Bezpalko
Topic Author
Charles Llewellyn
3 years 8 months ago #46735 by Charles Llewellyn
Replied by Charles Llewellyn on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law. Federal law pre-empts any state law that legalizes medicinal or recreational marijuana use.
Most leases clearly states that marijuana is a controlled substance and that possession, use, etc., on-site is a material lease violation. And, the odor impacts others’ quiet enjoyment and is therefore a lease violation also.
3 years 8 months ago #46735 by Charles Llewellyn
Topic Author
Antarctic Blizzards
1 year 9 months ago #638800 by Antarctic Blizzards
Replied by Antarctic Blizzards on topic Neighbor accused of smoking in smoke-free community
Well cooking it, to make it into a edible would also cause a smell. So what do you have to say about that?
1 year 9 months ago #638800 by Antarctic Blizzards