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

[WanderingNotLost]

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.

Ignoring the 111 comment...

I really wouldn't suggest you ask them to text you everytime they have a cigarette, I think they would laugh at you and you could be getting texts fairly regularly at very annoying times for you.

I'm on the fence too with this, id be upset if a neighbour was being annoyed by smoke, but would I then go out the front of the building instead - maybe sometimes but not in my PJ's or when I had friends over and was drinking wine.

Sadly I think you just have to put up with it.

As for the comments on weed smokers, totally different kettle of fish, I'd call the police if it was drifting into my home as it is illegal.

This is why I could never live in a flat. If the want to puff on their cancer sticks they should do it inside and not pollute everyone else's lives with their carcinogenic addictions. Unfortunately most smokers are selfish about their smoking. Looking forward to the day it is illegal!

Some people have no choice but to live in a flat.

There are very few days in the uk that having a window open is necessary.

MintJuliep which law do you think the OP's neighbour is breaking?

I'm also intrigued by that Apple.

I was in ops situation once, and after trying to ask nicely for the men to go inside, in desperation I called 111, I explained I knew they were not breaking any laws, that they had a right to smoke, but at the same time, I could not open my windows and it was a heat wave. They were extremely sympathetic.

They said they had an officer free and he came round within ten mins to simply have a word, about being neighbourly and considerate etc.

So yes, op, as I have done, if your desperate its worth a try.

Go inside or just move further away from windows. that is

What a great use of our already stretched police services.

I'm calling bullshit on that Mint. Sorry.

well, thats how desperate I was. Paula, do you think they would have pulled Plod off a burgalry to come to me?

No, they happened to have someone in the area and they - 111 were happy to send him to me. its not down to me how 111respond to calls. I have no power I just called out of sheer desperation.

What a great use of our already stretched police services.

Yep. Please don't use 111 for this reason.

Bit of a farce though, isn't it? The fact you even called in the first place.

i dont care what you call it, he came round, and had a quick polite word.

No bloody wonder our police service is such a bloody shambles. Going round and 'having a word' with people who aren't even doing anything illegal, people phoning the non emergency number because their neighbour is acting in a legal way.

That's a farce to me.

No the farce was, with a huge gardens these men continued to smoke in large numbers directly by my window and back door, and even when asked nicely, pleaded with, begged, they ignored me. All they had to do was take some steps away from the house to give the smoke a chance to go somewhere else. They refused. Thats the farce.

Apple, you do realize, I don't have the power to send police officers just by calling 111 don't you.

They assessed it, had some one near and sent them round. It took all of ten minuets.

It wasnt shambolic to me, I was desperate and they helped me and they came.

That's not a farce. That's people using the space they own. Inconsiderate, yes. A farce, no. PC Plod popping round for 'a word' is.

I'm afraid it is merely inconsiderate.

I think lots of people here need to get a grip, all the second hand smoke stuff? If you live in a city your breathe more carcinogenic air walking by the road.. don't even get me started on central London.

I do sympathise op, but it's your issue you have to find a solution.

Who ever called the police? Yeah right that's believable.

I would be furious if the police came to my house for such a reason. I'd probably find a way of smoking closer to the house, if possible. I would be incensed!!

Yanbu op. I also live in a flat. I'd love to live in a house but can't afford it. When we bought our flat one of the things I liked about it is there are no balconies. That means I don't have to put up with other people's anti social behaviour on their balconies. I really feel for you. That would drive me crazy.

Just buy an air conditioning unit. Problem solved.