Why can't our neighbours go to the back of their garden to smoke?

[shadypines]

They have a large garden and could easily walk away from the house to light up so that the smoke doesn't all blow into our windows. It's horrible and in this sweltering weather it means we either boil in 'fresh' air or have some cooler smoky air. Great. Just great.

It's the same here but I don't believe I have the right to complain.

I don't think they'd realise.

My parents have no understanding of how their smoke spreads.

They don't even go outside!

Rafander I think the ones who smoke in their cars with children in are probably the ones who smoke in their houses too, mostly.

I'm a smoker, and I do try to be considerate of others, your friend was wrong to spark up without saying "is it ok if i nip out back for a smoke?" or whatever because itwas your property but if someone wants to smoke in their own garden I don't think it's fair to expect them not
to because the smell bothers you. You wouldn't tell a neighbour they couldn't barbecue because you could smell it in the house if you had the windows open.

I'm not denying that some smokers are totally oblivious or inconsiserate btw, I know they are (and it bothers me too!) but expecting someone not to smoke outdoors on their own property because of a smell that lasts a few minutes is unreasonable imo.

I am not a smoker and don't like to breathe in other people's smoke, but I think you are being unreasonable.

You cannot dictate to people what they can and cannot do in their own gardens, or where they should stand to do certain things.

My parents are smokers. My MIL was a smoker and my husband is a reformed smoker (gave up more than 20 years ago now before we had the children). It was never a regular thing that our parents visited our house because of distance, but whenever they did they always just popped outside the back door to smoke. It was fine.

Barbecues from neighbouring gardens, and garden incinerators can also cause smells and a lot of smoke. Live and let live.

Yabu!

I hate the smell of smoke, the smell can make me feel nauseous for ages (ex-smoker, smell made me nauseous when pregnant and its never went away).

Our neighbour has a chimea which has the same effect for me, as soon as they lights it I need to go indoors and close all the windows.

But, its their garden and I cant do much about it, they are otherwise nice enough so I try not to resent them for it.

Don't think you are unreasonable asking nicely, but if they don't move down the garden there is not much else you can do.

How does leaving junk in the gap stop them smoking on their balcony ikea

It doesn't stop them from smoking, it possibly makes a slight barrier but mostly I'm just showing my disregard for their feelings ( in the same way they disregard our feelings) they have a very pretty and neat balcony, we need to take the stuff to the tip but it never gets to the top of our priority list, usually I wouldn't let my mess anoy other people but in this case I feel pleased to be anoying them. Rotting fish/dirty nappy smell will possibly encourage them not to smoke on the balcony, and ofcourse I can create whatever smells I choose on my own balcony.

OP I'm surprised you haven't been told off by Mumsnetters for not inviting them into your place to smoke...

Have always been a little surprised at the number of Mumsnetters who apparently smoke given the comments made on smoking threads.

To be fair Ikea they could call the council and report an accumulation of rubbish with smells that could attract rats/mice.

Yanbu. My new Nieghbours au pair smokes in their garden and I'm amazed at how easily I can smell it in MY house. It's such a revolting smell.

I guess it won't be as noticeable when the weather is cooler.

Possibly because smoking outside doesn't inflict the passive smoke onto their children/pets and other family members, and because the smoke dissipates into the air and doesn't harm anyone apart from the smoker

wrong wrong and wrong again, even if you smoked at the bottom of a reasonably large garden your still going to infect someones clean air with chemical particles.

In our terraces, someone smoking outside their house - means their smoke comes direclty into our house, and we are breathing in your smoke.

op I had to call police out last year in heat wave, baby sick and I couldn't keep going out, I pleaded with them, begged them I even got my SIL in to speak to them as she is also Polish to beg them to move away from windows.. ....after two days of having to leave my own home, I called non emergency NO, and said " Look, I am sure your not able to help me, but I am desperate I have a sick baby with very high temp, and we are sweltering inside house because of a smokers refusing to go down into garden, and smoking right by my windows..."

op they sent someone round in 5 mins! The policeman said - yes they can smoke in their garden, and after he had spoken to them, they can continue to smoke in same spot...however he said he would speak to them, and ask them to consider the baby.

It worked!

On other side, nice neighbours, very very very kindly moved their smoking spot which has made huge difference to us.

It beggars belief that nothing is being done to address people smoking out side their own houses but filling everyone elses with their noxious poisonous crap.

I think smokers should be made to smoke a distance away from other people full stop.

It's the same here but I don't believe I have the right to complain

You don't have to complain you can try asking nicely....

You don't think you have a right to breathe clean air?

I don't think there is any clean air left in the world. A car starting up probably produces more of a risk to your health than someone smoking a fag in their own garden.

I have to say I am utterly staggered by people still claiming second hand smoke wont harm you!? what planet are people on, where have they been for the last decade?

A car starting up probably produces more of a risk to your health than someone smoking a fag in their own garden

so why add a fag to the mix?

why add to the polution?

Rafanderpants

Couldn't you have closed the back door so the smoke could not be blown in?

OorWullie

"I smoke at my front door..." I'm glad you don't visit us. I like the front of our house to look nice.

Over the summer we end up having a fan pointed out of the window pointed towards our smoking neighbour's garden, it really reduces the stench but still allows us some fresh air.

if you're on good terms with them, it can't hurt to ask nicely, they might not mind moving down garden at all. that said, if they don't, there's probably nothing to be done about it. it's too bad - it's disgusting.

It's their garden.They can smoke where they like in it.

I'm vehemently anti-smoking myself but I'm sitting here that a poster called the police over this issue. Charming of the police to assist but totally and utterly not their role.

OP - you need to talk to your neighbours and see if you can reach a compromise. For example - they come outside and see your windows open - they stroll to their summerhouse down the garden . They come out and your windows are shut - they light up there and then.

Ask them nicely and if they disagree then hang out the window and squirt them with a water pistol.

Why should they?

Ps YABU