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AIBU?

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Original poster

To buy a house owned by smokers

67 replies

NoChella · 30/06/2017 08:04

After some advice please - viewed a house yesterday that is otherwise perfect but in through the front door and the smell of smoke was like a wall.
DP and I both non-smokers so probably more sensitive to it anyway. Smell wasn't too strong at all upstairs so think they probably just smoke in kitchen / living room. Kitchen is laminate floor, lounge/diner is carpet. Think they've been there around 18 months so not too "set in" if that makes sense...

Has anyone who's a non-smoker bought a house from a smoker before? How long did it take to get the smell out or does it stay forever? Any advice on what to do in addition to pulling up carpets would be great please!

OP posts:
mygorgeousmilo · 30/06/2017 10:15

Only buy if the price is dramatically reduced! Our house was absolutely rotten with nicotine when we moved in, although more like 20 years worth. We had to rip out all flooring, bleached every inch of the house including the ceilings, sanded off all the yellowed eggshell from the woodwork, and repainted every single inch. The yellow and the smell had permeated the kitchen cabinets and we ripped it out. But! Good location and good price, so I'd do it all again for the eventual good value. It cost us less to do it up than it would have been to buy somewhere that was already perfect, and we have it all how we want it.

mygorgeousmilo · 30/06/2017 10:16

wonky yes! Also had deep fat fryer and cats Shock what is it with that dreadful cleaning combo?!

BMW6 · 30/06/2017 10:37

You really don't need to replace nicotine stained plug sockets and light switches. Clean with detergent (flash for example). Obviously use cloth only damp not dripping and dry properly. Should clean up perfectly - I have had to do this myself.

DJBaggySmalls · 30/06/2017 10:39

Clean painted surfaces with a solution of sugar soap (decorators soap) to remove grease including nicotine and chip fat. You can get it from Wilko's, and you'll need 2 or 3 boxes to do a house.
Have the carpets cleaned, and wash fabrics.

Dont try to paint straight over it. Its grease and you have to wash it off.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 30/06/2017 10:41

For cat pee on concrete, hospital strength disinfectant works very well. Of course, you may not be able to access it easily though - I don't know where to buy it from, I just borrowed some from the lab I worked in (orange liquid savlon) and it cleared the smell.

sogladweleftheUK · 30/06/2017 10:53

We did, unwittingly, as when we originally viewed the house it was a bright summers day and all the doors and windows were open so we didn't notice it. Even on our second viewing, we didn't pick up on it.

Fast forward to our November completion and moving date and it was a very different story. When we moved in, every wall and ceiling was yellow and the worst rooms were the utility room and the main en-suite bathroom Shock Shock. We couldn't sleep a wink the first night as the smell permeating from the carpets was so bad.

Nearly three years later, we have completely overhauled the entire house - every carpet has been replaced, every wall painted, all three bathrooms and the kitchen completely replaced. Which should not have been necessary in a twelve year old house. And the awful awful smell is still there, especially when we come in after the house has been shut up for a while.

Never never again would I buy a house that has been smoked in. It is a disgusting habit and I truly believe that smokers have no idea of the after-effects.

SurferRona · 30/06/2017 11:09

Sugarmice and ifitquacks have it right. We bought first house years back from a heavy smoker who restricted it to the kitchen. Heavy scrub down of everything, lifted carpets and flooring etc on move in etc. But in kitchen when ever it got steamy, condensation on ceiling drew nicotine and tar out of walls so we were always having to wipe down yellowy drips. Boak.

DollyPartonsBeard · 30/06/2017 11:22

My son moved into a flat about fifteen months ago thst had previously been occupied by a heavy smoker. There was an orange corner in the bedroom and living room where the smoker had sat for years, and the place stank.

We redecorated (two coats of emulsion on all ceilings and Walls, gloss on all paintwork) throughout and recarpeted. It still smells of stale smoke at times. The only solution is to have plug-ins going full time (which are not cheap and probably not that healthy either)

Notreallyarsed · 30/06/2017 11:25

I bought my house 6 years ago and when I got the keys I was stunned by the smell. He must have had some bloody powerful air fresheners on the go when I viewed it. Smoke, stale pish and booze. After I'd literally stripped every carpet and bit of wallpaper and bleached the entire house top to bottom I finally shifted it. But it was a long, arduous and tedious process. As was cleaning the nicotine stains off every window frame, skirting board, light switch and plug socket. Ended up replacing the internal doors and all the windows too.

bumblebee61 · 30/06/2017 11:33

We did , it had been on the market for a while. We had it completely redecorated, but found the paint didn't seem to 'stick' in some areas as it had permeated so deep. Other than that , it was a good buy and we sold it very quickly when we moved. Just get it for a good price!

JaneEyre70 · 30/06/2017 11:39

My sister bought a very old property off a smoker, and it's still vile after she's been in it 18 months.........it's permeated the walls, floors, paintwork, woodwork...... it would be a no from me OP, it's enough work moving house let alone adding in a deep clean and floor removals. Your own stuff takes on the smell too.

JennyOnAPlate · 30/06/2017 11:44

We bought our previous house from smokers. It was fine but we had to strip all wallpaper and replace all carpets. I would say go for it as long as you can afford to do the same.

Original poster
NoChella · 30/06/2017 15:31

Thanks for all the advice everyone, we took the plunge, offered a couple of grand under the asking price and it's been accepted!

Sugar soap at the ready Grin

Thanks all

OP posts:
Original poster
NoChella · 30/06/2017 15:32

Thanks for all the advice everyone, we took the plunge, offered a couple of grand under the asking price and it's been accepted!

Sugar soap at the ready Grin

Thanks all

OP posts:
Funnyface1 · 30/06/2017 16:13

It will clear. My mum was a heavy smoker until about 18 months ago and her house doesn't smell at all now. It use to be awful visiting, bloody bliss now. She's lived there over 40 years and had smoked all that time.

Badweekjustgotworse · 30/06/2017 16:40

Congratulations nochella
Hope it all goes smoothly and you're in and scrubbing soon!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 30/06/2017 23:10

Hurrah! Well done, hope it all cleans up beautifully!
And wear gloves with the sugar soap, it's rough on the skin!

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