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Original poster

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:
Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 17:18

Boysonthesofa I can't imagine why they would tell me to effort, they might of course say no which is their perogative.

They may be resentful of being asked I suppose but would that be worse than us being resentful of them filling out house with smoke?

OP posts:
MyPersona · 24/10/2020 17:17

@Quickncjust4this

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.
And yet you don’t know the difference between a parabola and a pergola. 🤣
Theluggage15 · 24/10/2020 17:15

So it’s never windy where you live? The smoke always goes in exactly the same direction?

Babyroobs · 24/10/2020 17:14

YANBU. They are being very selfish. Highly unlikely they will understand that though.

TazMac · 24/10/2020 17:13

Oh dear, this thread hasn’t gone the way you thought it would, has it.

boysonthesofa · 24/10/2020 17:13

You can certainly ask them but consider how you'll feel if they tell you to eff off? Do you think you'll be happy with that or even more resentful? Might be worth just leaving it. Depends how reasonable they are...

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 17:12

Oh Taz, the irony of your comment also seems lost on you. No you are not whinging about your neighbours on mumsnet, you are for some unknown reason trying to find a fight with a random stranger instead.

I'm sending you a little kindness since you seem to be in short supply Flowers

OP posts:
Qqwweerrtty · 24/10/2020 17:08

This is a completely reasonable thing to complain about. Lots of people complain about bonfires and bbqs and they are nothing like as regular. It is disgusting to have cigarette smoke drifting into your house. I even know someone who successfully fought a planning application because it would encourage smoking under people’s bedroom windows.

ViewsAreMine · 24/10/2020 17:08

Type **. Sorry for the typo

TazMac · 24/10/2020 17:08

Nope, but I don’t expect my neighbours to live by my rules. Perhaps tolerance is linked to happiness. I’m not the one whinging about my neighbours on mumsnet.

ViewsAreMine · 24/10/2020 17:07

OP, YANBU if you ask them ' the right way' I've had this issue before and it didn't go well at first because the smoker was just recovering from cancer - she thought I was diplomatically trying to tell her off for smoking which wasn't the case. She did move her smoking spot though. I think you'll find most smokers would not wilfully cause you this tour of discomfort. Hope it goes well for you Daffodil

Yarboosucks · 24/10/2020 17:06

Blimey, the pedantry of some of these threads!

I would pop around with a bottle of plonk or some chocs and tell them the problem and the suggested solution. Ask nicely and calmly.

As an ex-smoker, I would not mind that at all!

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 17:04

I'm sorry you are feeling the need to pick an argument Taz. Is something in your life making you unhappy?

OP posts:
TazMac · 24/10/2020 17:04

Because 85% don't?

But just under 1 in 6 of the population smoke, unless you only mix with 5 other people, chances are you are going to meet a smoker.

ViewsAreMine · 24/10/2020 17:02

I thought a phd in a “physics related subject” would have made you able to work out the name of a garden structure. I think I smell something and it ain’t fag smoke.

Good heavens. All she's asking for is advice on how to handle unwanted cigarette smoke in her house. Can we focus on that??

SoupDragon · 24/10/2020 17:00

Why would cigarette smoke not be expected when 15% of the population smoke?

Because 85% don't?

TazMac · 24/10/2020 16:59

Cigarette smoke is not to be expected (unless you smoke or still live in the 1970's)

Why would cigarette smoke not be expected when 15% of the population smoke? It may be less common now but as 15% of the population smoke, cigarette smoke should not be unexpected.

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:59

Taz Mac I'm quite aware of what a parabola is, there is a reason it features in my autocorrect.

You seem quite concerned with my education at the cost of grasping my point

OP posts:
Fallsballs · 24/10/2020 16:54

I thought a phd in a “physics related subject” would have made you able to work out the name of a garden structure. I think I smell something and it ain’t fag smoke.

MatildaTheCat · 24/10/2020 16:53

@Quickncjust4this just approach them as suggested above and ask them to adjust the tent/ gazebo/ pergola/ marquee. There’s no reason to assume they’ll be arsey about it.

We had awful issues with our neighbours and their DC making an overwhelming amount of noise in the garden for hours and hours at a time. We talked to them very diplomatically, first by text and then in person and it was resolved very amicably.

TazMac · 24/10/2020 16:53

@Quickncjust4this

I maybe wrong but I thought you had to understand mathematics to a high level to be able to do a PhD in Physics.

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:52

Tazmac at what point did I state either that I hate smokers or that I would like to see smoking banned?

It seems you have some personal issues there that you might want to look into...

I have literally only stated that it is a nuisance having my home filled with cigarette smoke produced by my neighbours

OP posts:
Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:49

Apologies chocolate that my education didn't cover semi permanent garden structures Hmm

OP posts:
TazMac · 24/10/2020 16:49

I think you need to separate the fact that you hate smokers and think it should be banned (even though it’s legal and 15% of the population smoke), from the separate issue that is your neighbours effectively funnelling second hand smoke into your house.

Once you’ve done that, you may be able to speak to them in a reasonable manner and come to an agreement with them.

ChocolateCherrybomb · 24/10/2020 16:49

Just read your last update.

So, a tent then?

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