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We are renting , my toddler sons bedroom is adjacent to the communal doorway where smokers congregate . Many fag ends & ash in porch area where mail boxes are. Anyway every night his room smells of cigarettes when most of the smoking must be done.

I'm worried it will be effecting him? The windows have vents which are shut but you can still smell it and this will mean I won't be able to open the window when warmer. Can I complain to letting agent or do I have to put up with it? They are in something with 3 walls and a roof if that helps , if they just stood out further I doubt it would smell.

If they are smoking outside (and I suspect the only reason they are smoking outside is because they are not allowed to smoke inside) then there is nothing you can do about them smoking there.

I don't smoke myself but I have some sympathy with smokers who are forced to smoke outside of their own homes (in rental properties) so I certainly wouldn't call them on it!

You could perhaps mask the smell of the smoke in your DS's room with something else maybe?

I'd move. That's gopping.

It's not the smell as such I'm bothered by its more that it means I assume the toxins etc from the cigarette are in the room if you understand me. This will mean I can't open his window in summer or if he has a temp etc seems a bit unfair ?

Xpost gobbin , we plan to move later this year but that will still be at least 6 months of him sleeping in that room.

I dont know if you could do anything much. Try complaining and see what happens? Dont suppose you can swap room with toddler?

Well what would you want to happen? Realistically?

I doubt 6 months exposure will do any great harm, but it's really not ideal - is there any other room he could sleep in? ie could you have him in your room, or could you start him off in his own room and bring him in to the living room when you go to bed?
I doubt there is anything you could do to stop people smoking where they do - like one of the posters said, it's the downside of not being allowed to smoke indoors in a rental property. Perhaps it might be worth popping out one evening when smokers are congregating and having a reasonable chat, and asking them to move a couple of yards down the street? They can only say no, but nothing ventured....

No as I have my baby in my room so no better plus room too small.

Could you swap rooms? Put towls at the bottom of the doors so draft/smoke can't get in? In all honesty I'd move ASAP as I Couldbt have that as my dd is asthmatic. Do u have an extractor fan u could keep on?

Well just for people who smoke to walk a bit further out I guess, when I look out of both bedroom windows one at back and one at front there are loads of fag ends but maybe the back ones are chucked from upstairs as I don't notice it in ours/ baby room. It's a bit gross every time we leave my son picks up the fags ends in the doorway and its all ashy! I wondered whether it was ok to smoke there with it only being open on one side ?

I'm quite surprised at the power of smoke as this is a modern apartment block I will buy some tape and tape over the vents for extra protection and look forward to moving , I daren't go out and moan really I was more looking to see if a sign could be out there stating you couldn't smoke in the communal porch area or something.

You could ask them to move politely? Wont cost anything?

i think you are unlikely to have any effects from 6 months of being near people smoking in a different room, even if the smell isnt very nice. I wouldnt panic too much x

I can't believe people's attitudes here! of COURSE it is going to affect him and of course Sadie can do something.

You need to speak to the landlord Sadie...and if he or she is apathetic and doesn't seem to care, mention that you will be getting in touch with hte health and safety depatrment of your local council.

In the meantime, I would do as you say with tape...and perhaps get a fan to see if having it on deflects the smell...keep his door open though.

Bran if she can smell it then the chemicals are in the air...it will affect him.

oh, it is so hard for smokers to go outside, isn't it? If they want to smoke inside, they need to rent a place that allows it. There is a reason that those are very rare or very expensive.

lazy slobs. No sympathy at all. Contact your landlord - if it is a no-smoking building they are breaking the rules. Their dirty dog ends and dropped ash will wreck the carpet, and is a fire hazard.

It does not sound like a no smoking place Special...as OP says that some people throw their ends from their upper windows.

OP is it a hostel? How come there are so many people hanging out in the porch? Seems odd to me.

I would be very firm with the landlord.

he'll be fine OP so try to stop worrying about the health issues as they are so minute hes probably got more chance of being stuck by lightening through the window than getting ill as a direct result of the smell of smoke from outside.

There isn't much you can do apart from asking them nicely if they will move a bit further away.

It's likely the people smoking aren't aware the smoke's drifting in through the vents. If they knew a babies room was affected I'm sure they'd move.

So I'd pop out and have a quiet non-accusatory word.

"Hi guys, realise to a pain for you to not be able to smoke indoors, but when you smoke here it's drifting into my babies room <sad face>. Any chance you could move up just a little bit? That's so much <nice smile>".

why the comments about being firm with landlords? What can they do? They are smoking outside (if I am reading right) so not doing anything wrong

Ata...they're smoking in the porch...that's not outside.

Op...you could put up a notice if you're too shy to ask them....just a polite note where they can see it.

"Could I ask people to please stand away from the door when they smoke as the smoke is entering my child's bedroom and it's a worry. Thank you

Ask them nicely to move, i would, politely of course. If they don't move - bucket of water

Oh right, ill fuck off then

At work, people have to smoke at least 10m from the building and you see signs stuck on windows saying "please don't smoke outside this window" or similar.

Could you design a sign like that "please keep your cigarette smoke away from this window" etc and stick it to his window?