Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish our neighbours wouldn't smoke on their balcony?

130 replies

WanderingNotLost · 11/05/2016 22:37

Now I know people have the right to smoke on their own balcony if they want to. But here's the thing.
My and DP's flat has entirely south-facing windows, so when it's warm and sunny the place turns into a furnace. The thermostat read 35° when we got home today. Our building is an L-shape, so there's a flat on the floor below us whose living room balcony is below and to a right angle from our bedroom window, and the people who live in it have been smoking out there- presumably so their flat won't smell. We had our bedroom window open to try and cool the room down, and now it stinks, and I mean really stinks of cigarette smoke. I won't be able to sleep in there tonight.
Again, I know they can smoke on their balcony. But would it be so hard to show some consideration, when they can see that our bedroom window is open and their smoke is going right for it?!
Aargh.

OP posts:
DontBuyANewMumCuntingDailyMail · 11/05/2016 22:44

I'm very sorry you're having to put up with dirty stinky fag smoke, I hate it.

However I think this is just something you have to put up with when you live in close quarters/flats: other people's smells.

I'm not a smoker, but I wouldn't expect a smoker to look all around them to check everyone else's windows are closed before they lit up.

When I lived in a semi, my neighbours smoked and the smell would seep under the floorboards and into my house. It was rank. Couldn't do anything about it.

I have lovely neighbours who I really get on with but last summer they went through a stage of having a bonfire numerous times a week (doing garden work) and as our windows were open it stank in our house, plus my washing would stink of it too. It was pretty annoying. and I normally love the smell of bonfires

PaulAnkaTheDog · 11/05/2016 22:45

Yanbu to be miffed at the smell. Yabu if you expect them to change their habits in their own home to appease you. Perhaps buy a fan for your bedroom? Or leave blinds down during the day? The temperature isn't their fault.

Original poster
WanderingNotLost · 11/05/2016 22:58

We have our blinds shut all day long. It barely makes any difference.
It's not just the smell. I hate being forced to breathe it in, it makes me feel physically sick. My neighbours are free to pollute their own damn lungs as much as they like, but I don't want it anywhere near me. We have a fan, but it rattles like crazy and my DP is obsessed with keeping the electricity bill down. It's only the beginning of summer, I do t want to be forced to have my windows shut day and night on the off chance that they want to have a fag directly underneath them.
But there's really nothing I can do about it, is there... Sad

OP posts:
Breadwidow · 11/05/2016 23:02

I have the same problem - south facing balcony, flat gets hot and se cannot open the windows or enjoy the balcony as neighbours below us smoke. In fa t they are not even directly below us, but 2 floor down and it's still awful. The people directly below us suffer even worse. Both us and the neighbours below have young kids, we've tried to reason with them re our kids breathing in smoke but it's got us nowhere. Unfortunately people can smoke in the ow homes, but I think it's pretty rubbish when doing that is harmful to the health of others around them

sharknad0 · 11/05/2016 23:05

You could ask them nicely.

You are above their head, so you can make their life a misery with noise. I thought that normal people try to be considerate and pleasant, but after reading mumsnet, I am not so sure. I give your neighbours the benefit of the doubt, they might not have realised they are disturbing you.

Originalfoogirl · 11/05/2016 23:13

I'm a smoker. If someone came to me reasonably with this request, I'd be happy enough to oblige. I understand people don't like to breathe in my smoke. I'm the same when I see people smoking around entrances to places I have to walk in to with my daughter. I get worked up when people smoke around their own children, let alone mine! Why not just let them know it's a problem, they might react in a courteous way. I used to smoke on the balcony of a flat I lived in as a student.mmit never occurred to me it might be a problem.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 11/05/2016 23:18

I don't really think you can complain about people smoking on their own property.

phoolani · 11/05/2016 23:19

I would certainly try asking them nicely. A sort of 'look, I know you're not doing anything wrong, but it is affecting us etc'. If they're at all reasonable, it might go well. Maybe they could send you a text saying 'fag time' before they go out so you can close your windows for 5 minutes. I wouldn't mind doing that.

Original poster
WanderingNotLost · 11/05/2016 23:19

Sadly Shark we're not above their heads, we're at a right angle so they're downstairs and round the corner, the building is an L shape so their flat is at a right angle to ours

OP posts:
Original poster
WanderingNotLost · 11/05/2016 23:22

The other difficult thing is speaking to them. Not that I don't to, but our flat is the kind where you have to have a fob to get on each floor in the lift or open the right door on the stairwell. So I can't even pop down and politely ask them to fucking pack it in give me a warning. I don't even know which number their flat is

OP posts:
LeaLeander · 11/05/2016 23:23

Get a box fan and put it in window aimed out. It will pull hot air out. Doesn't use mich electricity.

Alternatively buy them a fan and extension electrical cord for their balcony to blow smoke away from you.

CodyKing · 11/05/2016 23:23

If it's south facing - aren't you just letting warm air in? Why not open a north facing window? Cooler air?

Original poster
WanderingNotLost · 11/05/2016 23:26

We don't have any north facing windows. Only south Sad

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 11/05/2016 23:28

There's literally nothing you can do about them smoking op. So let's brainstorm a way to keep your bedroom cooler Smile

MargaretCavendish · 11/05/2016 23:32

What would 'showing some consideration' actually mean? Not smoking on the balcony at all? Trying to move to the other end of it? I think you'd need to decide that before you spoke to them! You really have my sympathy - we used to live in a flat where the man across the hall smoked, and it seeped right into our flat too - but you need an actual solution to offer.

andintothefire · 11/05/2016 23:52

Definitely not unreasonable to ask them to use another end of the balcony (or similar solution) if that might help. However sadly I don't think you can stop them smoking on the balcony.

I think you may just have to bite the bullet and shell out for a good, quiet fan. To be honest, you'll find it much more effective than leaving windows open anyway. The Dyson fans are amazing - slightly pricey but I think worth every penny given how good they are.

MrsLettuce · 12/05/2016 00:04

Solar Window Film would be a great help against the heat

Iflyaway · 12/05/2016 00:08

How precious...

It's my balcony and I have every right to smoke fags and blow weed up your way LOL

Original poster
WanderingNotLost · 12/05/2016 00:09

I'm so bored and annoyed I drew a diagram.

I suppose part of me resents the idea of spending money on new fans and electricity to power them, when I'm not the one creating the problem and I should be able to just leave the window open and let the evening air do the job for free. I'd be tempted to ask them to buy the fan and donate to our electricity bill!

I suppose it doesn't help that I loathe smoking and those that do it to my very core. It's antisocial, damages yourself and whoever happens to be nearby you for whatever reason, smells and is expensive. I don't understand why anybody does it really... I'd be quite happy if it were banned.
Rant rant rant rant rant

To wish our neighbours wouldn't smoke on their balcony?
OP posts:
phoolani · 12/05/2016 00:10

Nothing precious about it; op has already accepted they have a right to smoke on their balcony. Doesn't mean a solution can't be worked that keeps everyone happy.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 12/05/2016 00:16

I sympathise, but where are they supposed to smoke.

Iflyaway · 12/05/2016 00:18

And I wish my neighbours wouldn't drive a car with those fumes up my nose too....

PaulAnkaTheDog · 12/05/2016 00:27

iflyaway I take it you're a smoker? I am as well. Fortunately I'm not as immature as you.

MattDillonsPants · 12/05/2016 00:34

Put a big fan by your window.

maxmaxdress · 12/05/2016 00:47

I am a smoker.

I dont like to smoke indoors for a few reasons:

  1. I have young children visiting all the time.
  2. I worry about the affect it has on my pets
  3. I like to take 5 minutes to sit outside. If i have a house full of people (and sometimes I do) it gives me a bit of privacy

While I sympathise OP and understand you shouldnt have to deal with the effects of other peoples habits- if I was your neighbour, my concerns would come before yours.

And its pretty extreme to say you "hate" somebody because they smoke.

small grip needed