Lady downstairs smoking outside my window

[ThePungentOnion]

New neighbour downstairs, her flat is at a 90 degree angle to mine which is on the first floor. Her door opens on to the parking spaces for 2 of the other flats. There's a flat below mine, one to the side and one above and then the same layout next door. (They're converted shops)

Anyway, she sits on her step to smoke and the smoke floats up into my bedroom. And today I'm fairly sure she was smoking weed.

Have I got any right to ask her nicely to move away from the windows (and her own doorstep?)

So as not to drip feed she looks after her grandson a couple of days a week and he was very noisily playing in the parking area. With a ride on fire engine and making siren noises. I work a fair amount of nights so I sent her a very polite note and a squeezy toy from my work for the grandson and she now attempts to get him to keep the noise down when I'm asleep in the day.

Yes you have every right to ask and it sounds like she will be receptive. Ask in the same polite way you did about keeping the noise down and make it clear you are rather reluctant to ask twice in a row because you don't want to appear difficult (just so she knows you're not a serial complainer). Can't see why not.

She probably doesn't realise the smoke is going in your window. Just ask her to move.

To be honest, I think you have a stronger case for asking her not to smoke weed (or tobacco) underneath your window than you had to ask her to keep her grandsons quiet when playing outside during the day. Especially if it was only a couple of times a week. Not her fault you need to sleep during the day and the kid is entitled to play (noisily) outside.

So fill your boots and ask away by all means. She sounds eminently reasonable. Like the PP said though, I'd try to make this the last complaint/request for quite some time.

Oh just leave the woman alone.

Butchy I 100% agree I have no right to expect anyone to be quiet during the day, that's why I asked nicely. The key word being asked.
Also as I said, it's not her garden, it's a parking space. I wouldn't live in a flat where my bedroom is right over someone else's garden, for that reason.

Anyway thanks everyone, I think there's no harm in asking.

You can try and ask her nicely. Maybe she doesn't realise the smoke is waffling up.

No my neighbours smoke right outside my window. Left my window open once on a hot day and the whole room stank of smoke. As a non smoker it was pretty disgusting.

Ask nicely, beyond me how she couldn't realise the smoke is going in your window.

If no joy, demonstrate gravity with a bucket of water.

If you need quiet to sleep, why is your window open?

Dutch1e because my flat is as hot as Satan's flip flops on holiday on the sub from April-October

I think it would be fine to ask but do it in a friendly way. Maybe say God I feel like such a moaner but could you. ...

Try to keep it light.

Ask nicely. If that doesn't work, you need a well-watered window box.

Get a portable air con unit instead?
I wouldn't ask tbh.

I think your going to need to be careful- if you keep requesting they stop doing things you may end up coming across as 'That annoying neighbour' and they then stop trying

I had a selfish inconsiderate arsehole neighbour who did this all the time. People like that who only care about themselves will only be petty and do it more often if you ask them to move. Will probably wave at you whilst doing it.

Dutch1e because my flat is as hot as Satan's flip flops on holiday on the sub from April-October

well fair enough then!