Cigarette smoke

[Gettingbysomehow]

I just don't know what to do. I moved into a smokers house because it was cheap and it took me three years to get rid of the stink. I had to replaster and paint every surface,
I'd just got to the point where my house smelt amazing, always nice and I've been using Purdy and Figg so lovely smell of natural essential oils everywhere.
I'm allergic to cigarettes, they give me migraines and make me feel really rough.
Then a new neighbour moved in next door. I live in a terraced house which is all I can afford.
They must smoke about 60 a day ready made cigarettes which are the worst.
My house smells like an ashtray 24/7, I opened my wardrobe which is built in and attached to the wall their side and every single one of my shoes and clothes stinks of fags.
They smoke in their bedroom so my bedroom stinks too. I have a permanent stinking headache because of my allergy, I,m at home full time waiting for a hip replacement so I have nowhere to go.
I am absolutely desperate - anyone got any ideas. Is it illegal for them to pollute a neighbours house.

I agree that we're no longer nose blind to it as smoking becomes more and more rare.

I'm 55 so old enough to remember when people smoked everywhere, including school staff rooms and playgrounds.

I don't think anyone could smell it because literally everyone stunk of it.

So sorry OP, I really couldn't deal with it either despite having grown up with a selfish chain smoking step parent that never made any effort not to smoke in the house or car 😢 We're very non exposed to cigarettes here so we all notice the tiniest whiff of it when we're out and about 🤢

I think a PP is right, we (society) just aren't as used to it anymore so we notice it far more. I can't stand the sickly stench of vapes either although I'm sure you would absolutely swap the manky fagger next door for a vaper.

I agree with you, you shouldn't have to tolerate it in your own home. That's torture. There should be designated smoking/vaping/druggie spots. Preferably one big isolated town cut off from the rest of civilisation, joking (or maybe I'm not).

Truly hope you don't have to put up with it for much longer OP.

As a PP noted it probably does count as a statutory nuisance, but the chances of anything being done about it are likely zero.

There are probably practical things you can do to reduce the smell or impact of it, but I don't think you'll ever be able to eliminate it.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/what-can-we-do-to-stop-our-neighbour-s-smoke-leaking-into-our-home-1.3802931?origin=serp_auto

No solutions I'm afraid but I do sympathise. My friend is currently at daggers drawn with her neighbour as he smokes cannabis in his house and it seeps through into her bathroom and kitchen. It's bad enough when you walk past someone smoking but in your house is not acceptable.

@HalloweenHaribo
I agree, there always seemed to be at least one smoker per household when I was growing up, but we never noticed the smell or the yellow ceilings!
Now I can tell immediately if someone smokes. You can't hide the smell. A good friend of mine smokes, she has candles and air freshener everywhere but the whole house stinks and she only smokes in the kitchen

I suspect it would be coming under the floorboards, not through walls.

I'd lift carpets and try and seal the boards somehow? Could you maybe ply line the boards and silicone round the skirting boards. Would be relatively inexpensive and could make the world of difference.

How is it an exaggeration? My actual .medical job is dealing with people who smoke. If I was allowed to post pictures I would. Some of these deaths are absolutely horrific. I'm not imagining them. Feet dying, rotting and being removed is what I do for a living. Smoking is a horrific thing to do to yourself. I am an ex smoker. And that's just the legs. The rest isn't any better.

My cousin suggested it might be the drains but I can't work out where it's coming from.

Do you have an electric car or do you just use public transport to relieve pollution in the air?

I'm allergic to cats, and my neighbour has two who like me too much. Ugh. Oh and I despise dogs in shops, cafes and other social places.

I must lobby my MP to have dogs and cats banned. I wonder how successful I will be.

Maybe buy your neighbour a vape stick for indoors. He will not stop cigarettes just for you I reckon.

It's not pedantic it's a fact : While it is possible, and quite common actually to display signs of allergic rhinitis/asthma. While they are airborne villains to avoid, they are not classified as allergens. They are technically called irritants, due to the chemicals they contain.

I think if it's not illegal I'm just going to have lobby my MP

I honestly feel for your difficulties, OP, but am not sure how that's going to help anything right now, when smoking in his own home is perfectly legal

I'm no structural expert so couldn't say if any of the suggestions would work (though presumably it would be worth looking into some?) but I'm struggling to see any other permanent solution beyond moving - and even then there's no guarantee you wouldn't get another heavy smoker next door