What to do...my Apartment Smells like Ciggys All the Time and I Don't Smoke..

I would call the office and see if they may a different apartment you could move to. That should not be considered breaking your lease so I would not think there should be penalty fees.

5 moms found this helpful

I've been in the same exact place as you and it's awful...

The cigarettes are bad but you are actually making it worse trying to cover it up. The synthetic chemicals in air fresheners cause respiratory distress and neurological damage. There are some natural solvents that can absorb the odor but if they continue to smoke you'll just be in a constant battle. My best advice is to build your immune system up. If you'd like to go that route, let me know and I'll walk you through some options you have.

Sooooo sorry!

3 moms found this helpful

That is awful! I'd definately say something to the leasing office and see if anything can be done to curb down the smoking neighbors/odor. I'm not a big fan of the spray air freshners as I've found they don't seem to help much for serious odors and could possibly make your asthma symptoms worse. Have you considered purchasing an air purifier? They're great for asthmatics (I couldn't live without mine :-) and most do a great job at sucking up cigarette smoke as I also live with a smoker. I've been happy with my Rabbit Air and Honeywell. It's important to have one in your bedroom. Good luck!

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I would talk to the management and state all you stated above about your asthma and ask if they can either let you our of your lease, move you to a different unit or talk to the renters who are smoking. It can come through the air ducts and permeate internal walls that are not much more than open spaces with some porous boards over them.
If they are unwilling to let you out of your lease I would get some small claims paperwork, fill it out and write a super courteous letter perhaps with a letter from your physician attached, that you request to be able to move for health reasons.

3 moms found this helpful

What about subleasing your apartment to someone else. Maybe you can avoid all those ridiculous fees if someone else lives there until your lease is up. I like the idea of going to the newspapers and making a big deal about this. Why don't you take this to a higher level and consult with a lawyer about your rights? You may be able to talk to one for free. I wish you the best!

2 moms found this helpful

I don't know if this will help the asthma, but bowls or jars of white vinegar placed about can really help eat up the smell. The perfuming agents you're using may also be irritating your asthma.

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Can you talk to your neighbors about it? Clearly you would approach them respectfully, as you are here, but maybe add in some specifics, "I certainly don't expect you to stop smoking in your home altogether, but ANY smokes you could take outside would be a tremendous help to my health. Or maybe you could use a fan to blow some of the smoke out a window, in fact I have an extra one you could use right here..."

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It's discusting, so trashy to smoke inside the house. Are there any kids in the apartment building? If you can choke on the smell in your apartment, can you imagine what their place smells like? report it to the child services. I hope you will find a way to get out. If possible open your windows to air the place. I don't believe talking to your neighbors will solve anything. Please tell your leasing office about this asap and let them know You will hold the leasing office responsible for all your medical bills and your lawyer's fees. You should be able to break your lease contract under these circumstances.

1 mom found this helpful

Oh yuck yuck yuck! Get an air purifier or two, Quick!!!

The air purifiers are supposed to be good for second hand smoke and allergens. Just google them.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Contact your landlord and file a complaint. if it is effecting your health then your landlord can move you to another apartment or your neighbors. You can also go to home depot and get a smoke bomb that you set off in your house that should get rid of that smell.

1 mom found this helpful

Your health is being affected and you "can't move out" without a penalty? I think not. Investigate your rights. You can't make someone stop smoking in their home, but you should be able to move out of your place without being penalized.

1 mom found this helpful

I definitely like the suggestion to move to another apartment or even another location. If you stay at the same brand of property, there shouldn't be any additional fees. I would talk to corporate and find out. Then, if they are still nasty to you, I would contact your local news station or news paper. They have the power to expose the apartment complex and give them bad press, which usually would result in accomodating your needs. If your news station or news paper won't help, see if you can get an attorney involved. Many of them will do a free consultation and if you have a case they feel they can win, they might do it upon contingency. If you sue the apartment complex for medical bills and suffering, the attorney would take payment out of your winnings rather than give you a big bill that you can't afford. Some won't charge you at all if they don't win, so definitely see if there is one in your area.

If none of this works, you are going to need to do something to take the odor out of your house. You might need to buy an air purifier. Your lungs are too important not to invest in. If you don't want to do that, there is a product called Fresh Wave. It's non-toxic and it is amazing. It comes in a gel, carpet shake (powder), candle, liquid and spray. I agree with the other moms that say don't buy the fragrances, they are horrible for you. I am asthmatic too and I am madly in love with Fresh Wave, it's all natural. I would probably use the gel and place it in all the areas you can smell the smoke. I got free samples of it and was skeptical and after trying it, I am so impressed on how well it works. (I don't work for them :)

You can buy it from Williams Sonoma Outlet stores, Bed Bath and Beyond and their website http://www.fresh-wave.com/

Good luck to you!!!

1 mom found this helpful

The 1st thing I thought was, wow! they are allowed to smoke in their rented apartment? But, then I see you live in VA, and I have no idea what your smoking laws are. I have no idea if you have a case. How long until your lease is up? Next time, I would look for a nonsmoking apartment building. Do those exist? you'll have the same problem next time.

1 mom found this helpful

Start with your landlord. Let him/her know how the neighbor's smoke is affecting your health. They are obligated to keep the apartment "habitable" for tenants. Is there another apartment in the complex you can move to? Can your neighbors smoke outside or use a smokeless ashtray? Most people are reasonable and will accommodate, especially if it's a health issue.

If none of this works, get a note from your doctor saying that you must move. This should get you out of the apartment lease penalties.

Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

You're received a lot of great ideas, so I will try not to repeat (although I haven't read them all). The main thing I want to say is to start doing everything in writing. In the first letter outline everything you have already done and if possible include dates of each time you've complained to the landlord and what their response. Next, start researching your real estate laws in your state/city. Next, read your lease to make sure they're not breaking any laws. In your next letter to the corporate leasing agent, explain that you'd be happy to move if they guarantee in writing that they will return your security deposit and waive the penalties for breaking your lease early, otherwise, you're going to have to take matters a step further in order to obtain relief. First do your research though, if there are code violations at all, you can at least know that you have a leg to stand on. Also, check with your city to see if there is any kind of enforcement department for rental properties. research research research. in the meantime, yes, you may have to buy an ionizer for your own health - that matters the most. also, all the sprays and potpourri may actually be making your asthma worse as well. you need stuff out of the air, not more in it. the apartment should, at the very least, offer to have your carpets cleaned.

1 mom found this helpful

You need to contact your landlord. There are laws that protect you from interference from your neighbors. There should be a clause in your Lease regarding "quiet enjoyment" of your apartment home. It is the landlord's responsibility to seal the areas between your apartment and the next or require that the smoker NOT smoke in their home to avoid contaminating YOUR home. If you are unsure or need help, contact your local renter's rights organization. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

One time a skunk sprayed under the house I was renting and I read to put small amounts of tomatoe sauce around the house to absoarb the smell, sounds weird but it worked! I got a bunch of little canned tomatoe sauces and put them all over the house, I left for a full day and when I came back the smell was gone! Not sure if it would work for you but it's worth s try.

Yikes, horrible problem. I can relate, as my asthma is kicked up a notch by cigarette smoke, too. I'd avoid sprays and air fresheners, though, as most are toxic and can actually aggravate health problems.

If you enter "cigarette smoke, apartment" in the mamapedia search box above, you'll find previous responses to similar questions. Some of the ideas sound pretty helpful. Here's one link:
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/7467915271324434433