Ask your landlord if they will install the door sweep. You can find draft guards at many home goods stores or online. You can also make one yourself by rolling up a towel.
If you’re not permitted by your landlord to install weather stripping, you can block much of the smoke by tucking a rolled up towel around the bottom of the window.
You can purchase seals made for electrical outlets and light switch points. Ask at your local hardware store.
It’s best to talk to your landlord to find out if they can seal some of the gaps. Using padding and tape won’t alter the infrastructure of your apartment, so it won’t violate your lease.
Tape won’t work as well as caulk, but it’s better than nothing.
Fans don’t always work, but they can help. A large box fan is the best type of fan for this.
You might knock on the door and say, “Hi, I’m your neighbor Maggie. I was hoping I could talk to you for a few minutes. ”
You might say, “I’m sure you don’t realize this, but smoke is drifting from your apartment into mine. We can see it coming in through the vents and smell it in every room. It’s causing us to have trouble breathing. ”
Say something like, “I know it seems like the smoke is only affecting you, but we’re breathing it in, as well. Secondhand smoke might make my asthma worse and could cause serious health issues, like lung cancer. I’m worried that my family’s health is at risk. ”
You might say, “I’m not here to tell you what to do or try to stop you from smoking. I just wanted to find a way for you to continue doing what you like without the smoke coming into my apartment. Can we talk about a compromise?”
Say, “I have smoke drifting into my apartment from apartment 212. Is there something you could do about that?”
Check your city’s or county’s website to find out if there’s a law in place. You might also do an Internet search. See if your area has a tenant’s rights organization that can help you learn more about your rights.
Note how many times a day you smell the smoke. Describe what you’re experiencing. Explain which rooms of your home are affected and how. Take pictures of smoke plumes or cigarette butts. Write down how the smoke makes you or your family feel.
You might say, “Since the smoke is throughout the building, I’m sure you’re worried about cleanup costs and property damage. Additionally, my family is having trouble breathing, and my daughter now has asthma. We’re hoping that you might be willing to go smoke-free so that the entire building is cleaner. ” Keep a record of all of your communications with your landlord in case you need them to prove that you’ve tried to seek help from them.
Say, “Hi, I’m Maggie from apartment 214. Have you noticed any smoke coming into your apartment? I’m going to be talking to the landlord about it and hoped you’d be open to joining me. ”
If your area doesn’t have code enforcement, call your city council official, mayor’s office, city manager’s office, or the law enforcement non-emergency line. They can advise you on who to contact about this issue.
You’ll need to prove that secondhand smoke is harming you, so make sure you have good documentation about what’s been happening. Additionally, it’s best to have medical records that show you’re being treated for conditions related to the smoke.
