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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To complain to neighbours smoking in the garden?

235 replies

Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 15:39

Our neighbours have recently installed a canvas covered parabola thing in their garden, with one side (the side pointing towards our garden) left open.

They are now using this as an all seasons smoking shelter. Many times through the day and most evenings they are sat out there puffing away.

The problem is it is completely stinking out my house. The whole of our top floor now stinks of smoke. I've shut the windows be it is still coming in through the vents. I've bought new air fresheners which help but it's still awful.

As non smokers it's really unbearable for us I'm also worried about young children and the health effect to them.

Would I be unreasonable to ask them to stop, or at least to add a 4th panel to their shelter to reduce what reaches our home?

OP posts:
BoulangerieBabs · 24/10/2020 15:53

What's a parabola?

Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 15:52

Sparkl fairy as someone with a master's degree in physics and a PhD in a related field, I can tell you it does not defy the rules of physics. What a silly comment.

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 24/10/2020 15:50

I never understand this. So you're saying that the smoke from a couple of cigarettes has drifted up from ground floor to your upstairs windows, and got through the vents AND managed to stink out your house without dissipating on the way at all? Defying the laws of physics like that is really impressive.

Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 15:50

Witches, inside I assume. Occasionally we would notice the cigarette smell if we were all using our gardens, but it wasn't such a massive nuisance, we certainly didn't notice it inside.
I wonder if the parabola is compounding the issue. They are definately outside more which could be it but it also seems to be directing the smoke our way

OP posts:
Halliehallie9828 · 24/10/2020 15:48

They can smoke in their garden... yabu

WitchesSpelleas · 24/10/2020 15:47

Where were they smoking before they installed the shelter?

user1483387154 · 24/10/2020 15:46

maybe ask if they would consider a 4th side, but no you can't ask them to stop its their property and smoking isn't illegal.

Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 15:46

I can't see why it would need to be a massive argument? Currently they are ruining our enjoyment of our home and are likely totally unaware of that.
Surely it wouldn't be a big issue for them to move to the other side of their house or to enclose their smoking place completely by adding a 4th panel?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 24/10/2020 15:44

Shut windows AND vents

  • if it's still coming in then you have a problem bigger than smoke

Open windows at front of house

Francescaisstressed · 24/10/2020 15:42

Yes. They are allowed to smoke in there garden and you really run the risk of starting a massive argument. The weather is turning so imagine your windows will be shut anyway. Is it really worth causing a massive rift?