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AIBU?

Neighbours smoking weed

47 replies

Gudgyx · 04/11/2014 10:44

Hello all,

Looking for some advice from you lovely people.

I recently moved into a new flat. Its a 4 in a block property, private rented. We moved as I am 24 weeks pregnant, and needed another bedroom.

I dont know what to do about this issue. I'm not sure if I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but my downstairs neighbour smokes grass constantly. Its grass, not hard dope, so the smell is very strong and easily identifiable.

I wouldnt mind at all if he was doing it in his own flat, but him and the guy directly next door to me smoke it together in the communal close. I'm concerned as I'm pregnant, and obviously will have a newborn there in a few months. The guy downstairs has a young daughter as well, she's maybe about 4 I think.

My flat stinks of it :( I have candles burning constantly in my bedroom, bathroom and living room and can still smell it. It's making me feel sick.

The way I see it, I have 4 choices:

Let it go/ignore it. Other than this there is no problems, not overly noisy etc and after all its only weed, and not something I'd normally have a problem with if it wasnt stinking out my flat.

Get my OH to have a quiet word with them, just asking them to take it in their flats or go right outside. I'm not sure about this, as its obviously taking on 2 neighbours, and I dont know them well enough to know how they'd take it. And the guy downstairs has his young daughter too.

Report them to police. Dont think I'd do this as its a bit extreme for a bit of weed, and nothing would probably get done anyway.

Report them to the landlord. Not sure what good this would do at all!

Does anyone have any advice on what the best thing to do would be, or any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:

Report

Gudgyx · 04/11/2014 10:45

Also, suppose my AIBU in this is, AIBU to think this is a big deal?

OP posts:

19lottie82 · 04/11/2014 10:48

I'd go for the second option, a quiet word should do the trick. If not, then re think the situation.

I don't have anything against dope smokers (quite a few of my friends do it, and I have in the past), but I wouldn't want my flat smelling of it because of my neighbours habit, so no, YANBU.

BeGhoul · 04/11/2014 10:55

well I don't think asking him to smoke inside with his young child is a viable option.

But you ANBU to alert them to the fact that the smoke is coming into your flat etc.

hellsbellsmelons · 04/11/2014 10:57

I'd have a word first of all.
I know what you mean, that smell makes me feel sick as well.
If doesn't improve then alert the LL. I'm sure they won't be best pleased!

parakeet · 04/11/2014 11:16

I think YANBU to think is a big deal. I have no problem with people smoking dope if it only affects them, but what you are describing about the smell sounds very unpleasant.

In reality the four options you give aren't mutually exclusive. You can escalate your responses as needed. I would suggest

Quiet friendly word, emphasising how much you can smell it and that it's making you feel sick.
Complain to landlord. He's breaking terms of his lease (preventing others from quiet enjoyment) and the landlord can legally evict him if he doesn't stop.
Complain to police. It's worth a try.
Leave.

Good luck.

BuzzardBird · 04/11/2014 11:20

Also to add to Parakeet's post, the landlord will be in serious trouble if the tenant is caught out by the Police so definitely let him know if the 'quiet word' doesn't work out.

19lottie82 · 04/11/2014 11:43

Buzzard..... Why would the landlord be in legal trouble if the tenant is caught smoking weed by the police? Sorry, but that's nonsense!

Tryharder · 04/11/2014 11:53

YANBU.
Habitual weed smokers are pathetic. I mean, grow up FFS.

I would probably get your DH to have a quiet word. The only problem with that is that if he tells you to fuck off, he will know it's you if you then report it to the police/landlord.

raltheraffe · 04/11/2014 12:00

I would advise against a quiet word as it writes out the option of later complaining to the police. If your DH has a word and a few weeks later the police come out the neighbour will know it is you who has dobbed him in and he might not take too kindly to this.

Police will not do anything about it anyway. Someone I know is a dealer and he was caught with over £2000 of weed in his house and all he got was CS and a fine.

Personally I would just tolerate it. I have lived next to some pot smoking neighbours and it does not bother me. They were not playing music or behaving in a rowdy manner. They were actually a nice couple and I got on fine with them.

serislou · 04/11/2014 12:04

YANBU

I had a similar problem with neighbours smoking weed in their garden which was next to our dining room window usually at the time I was trying to give the children dinner. As I knew you could hear everything through the single glazed windows and I was a bit scared of them I used to say very loudly to the dc 'let's finish our dinner in the other room, I don't want you sitting in this horrible smell'

There would usually be a bit of scuffling and it would stop for a couple of weeks. Bit PA maybe but it did let them know that they were affecting our house and I didn't have to confront them.

BuzzardBird · 04/11/2014 12:08

Section 8 of the MDA states that a landlord can be in trouble if they are aware of the drug use on the property. Once the OP has complained to the landlord, or if anyone else has, the landlord can be prosecuted.

NeoFaust · 04/11/2014 12:16

Have a quiet word. As a smoker myself, I'm usually more than happy to find somewhere else to spark up if it's causing offence. Definitely report them to the police if they are aggressive or hostile.

specialsubject · 04/11/2014 12:23

assuming they are also renting - you are in luck. Contact their landlord and let him know. Even if he can't do anything immediately, he can not renew their lease when it comes up. He probably doesn't want useless stoners in his property, and they attract wrong 'uns too.

they don't need to smoke, they need a life. They could even, shock horror, walk further away so they don't stink your place out. Same as for normal stinky-stick smokers.

oh, and don't use candles. Fire risk and more smell.

raltheraffe · 04/11/2014 12:28

other points:

are people coming and going from the flat at all hours? If yes, he may be dealing.

does the smell linger all the time, or just when they are seen to be smoking it? they may be growing.

NewEraNewMindset · 04/11/2014 12:33

I know it goes against HA rules, not sure about private landlord, but I did think the same thing re. approaching the land lord of the property to say their tenant is causing you a problem.

I really think it depends on how approachable your neighour(s) is. If you think they would be receptive to a quiet word then that might be the first step. Only problem is once you do that, and if it gets ignored, it's going to create a massive rift if they continue to smoke weed in the same place and if you then choose to escalate it it's going to be immediately obvious that you have in essence 'grassed them up'.

VenusRising · 04/11/2014 12:35

Why you go down when they're smoking and let them know that it's making you feel sick and it's making your home reek.
They probably don't know you're pregnant or that you've even moved in so it will be nice to get to know them.

You really don't need a SWAT team to sort it out.

Ask them what time would be best for them to smoke it and ask if they could make sure to stay at least 6 metres away from your flat. That way you have an agreed time, and can close your windows, and the 6 m is the law about anyone smoking anything, pipe cigar, ciggy or grass.

have a chat with a local mediator to get some advice n how to work it out if you feel you need help to have a resolution.

No need to get the police involved, but you all have to live there, and an agreed settlement that meets all your needs is one which will work best in the long term.

Davsmum · 04/11/2014 12:35

If it is bothering you - and it seems it is - I would report it to the Landlord.
I wouldn't have a word with the neighbour when it is about drugs of any kind because you have no idea how he will react or whether he deals or who he knows etc etc.

dreamingofsun · 04/11/2014 12:39

if i was the landlord i would be disinclined to get involved. my first question would be have you spoken to them about it. i would expect a tennant to try and sort problems out themselves first.

if i had to get involved then i would probably want something in writing from you. to acuse someone of smoking dope without proof is not something i would be jumping to do as a LL

WorraLiberty · 04/11/2014 12:44

You have more than 4 options

You left out the obvious one of having a quiet word with them yourself.

They might take more notice of a pregnant woman anyway.

FannyFifer · 04/11/2014 12:44

I've has similar prob in a previous house, I just said, look lads would you mind smoking that somewhere else as my house is reeking & it's making me feel sick, cheers.

Neighbour was apologetic, hadn't realised.

NewEraNewMindset · 04/11/2014 12:47

Also you could ask your local PCSO yo have a word. I think the details would be in any local publications that come through the door or on your local police page.

I know we are a tiptoeing around the fact that it's illegal, as we know that on the whole personal use is ignored by the police, and rightly so in a way as I would also prefer police time to be taken up catching violent offenders etc. However being in possession of cannabis is still illegal in the UK and one would assume that if he is smoking it, he probably has some about his person or in his house.

Sprink · 04/11/2014 13:02

An agreed time for them to smoke and OP to close her windows? Really?

I have no problem with people who want to smoke weed, but why should she inconvenience herself to support someone else's illegal drug habit? (Sorry, this scenario is making me laugh--the daily timer going off, jolly shouts of "It's Grass O'Clock!")

They're stinking up her flat; their behaviour is affecting her well being and her home. It needs to stop.

I'd just pop out when they're there, tell them what's happening, and ask them to find another location for their den of iniquity.

Lushlush · 04/11/2014 13:23

Think it would make me want to move to be honest.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 04/11/2014 13:35

Ask them what time would be best for them to smoke it and ask if they could make sure to stay at least 6 metres away from your flat. That way you have an agreed time, and can close your windows

Sorry to say, but that's a ridiculous suggestion Why on earth should the OP agree a "weed" time with her neighbours . They don't have to smoke at any time, do they.

BeetlebumShesAGun · 04/11/2014 13:42

I had this exact problem when we moved when I was pregnant except it was in a house and the guy used to smoke in the garden, right at their back door. I didn't say anything as I was a coward nervous but once my dad was round and smelled it. He later got chatting to the guy in the pub and mentioned it casually, dropping in that I was pregnant. Next day he came round and was so lovely and apologetic. From then on he smoked right at the bottom of their garden where it couldn't really be smelled from the house. Never smelled it since DD came along either.

So just a quiet friendly word is my advice. Then if they don't react well you can consider your next options.

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