What do I do about weed smoking neighbours stinking out my flat?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I live in a top floor flat with entirely south facing floor to ceiling windows, and the roof of the building is black so when the sun shines for more than 5 minutes or the mercury rises above tepid outside the place turns into an oven. That's problem one.

My neighbours downstairs are fond of a spliff or two (masterful understatement) and they smoke out on their balcony, presumably so the smoke and smell doesn't go inside their flat. Which is fine for them except it comes straight in through our windows and balcony door if we have them open at all. That's problem two.

This evening I went out for dinner and left the windows and balcony door open hoping the flat would cool down a bit whilst I was out, as it was absolutely swelteringly hot. I got in just shy of two hours ago, and the whole flat stinks of weed. It's like it's been fucking hotboxed. There was nothing I could do except turn the fan on and point it out of the door but I'd only turned it back off a little while before the fuckers downstairs lit up again and hey presto, back in it comes! My DH have gone downstairs and spoken to them about it before but they just don't fucking care.

It's actually making me feel quite sick. To make matters worse they have a baby downstairs.

What can I do? Please don't just say "move". It really isn't that easy.

I’m hoping for some amazing answer to this too! My neighbours in every direction smoke skunk all day and it’s driving me nuts! I love the way they lean out of the window or sit just outside so as to not stink their house out, but clearly don’t mind it drifting in through my kids bedroom windows and just smothering is with the smell all the time.

When I was pregnant similar happened to me. I called the police in a hormonal rage and they came round, found out that the dope flat was sublet illegally and the tenants were evicted.

I’m in Zone 1, London. They are taking drug use v seriously around here. We now have a crime number and a local police contact if similar happens again. A letter was put through every door with the information.

it's illegal. Call the police and mention children involved.

I'm in Zone 4 London. I have thought about calling the police but I just don't think it'll get much attention what with all the bloody stabbing and violence going on around here recently.

I would dob them in too. Why the fuck should you have to breathe in their shite all the time? And it's potentially a safeguarding issue if the child can breathe it in, or they're too stoned to look after it properly.

I'm very interested to hear the Met are taking an interest now. I had assumed they were turning a blind eye these days, given how often someone passes me on the street in broad daylight smoking weed.

If the property is rented, they are probably in breach of their tenancy agreement. Contact the ll or agent expressing your dissatisfaction.

I* had assumed they were turning a blind eye these days, given how often someone passes me on the street in broad daylight smoking weed.*

Another reason I haven't bothered reporting it. Chances are it's going to be legalised soon anyway and then what the hell will I do?

DH just got in, got one whiff of the place and was not happy. He went downstairs (after I pleaded with him not to), rang on their doorbell a few times, the bloke came out effing and blinding and threatened to bash him with a hammer.

Until you said zone 4 I was wondering if we lived in the same building! But I live just outside zone 6, so nope.

My neighbours also smoke skunk with a toddler in their flat. Sometimes they come downstairs and smoke in the garden, only problem is they stand right outside DS' window. However, that's calmed down a bit since the time he yelled to me when the window was open "Mum, someone's smoking drugs outside my room again!" (He has ASD and no filter). They're doing it nearer the sheds and garages now.

I'm not anti drugs, I take CBD myself for pain, but I am keen on courtesy and common decency. I don't vape mine because it does smell, and the second hand smoke can have quite an effect on others. DS gets a headache, I just find their particular strain overly potent.

Report to Social Services - they can't do nothing if you tell them there is a baby and they are taking drugs.

We have similar issues.

We called 101 to get some advice, and they said there isn't much the police would do, we could phone every time it happens and they would take note and maybe come out a speak with the neighbour.

Our house regularly stinks of it, people would think someone in our house was smoking it it's that bad. It gets through some how even when all the windows are shut, it's horrible. I hate that nothing can be done when it's now effecting us in our own home.

I’d be wary of calling the police- do any of the other neighbours complain? If not, it’s highly likely they will be retribution’s towards you if you do.

I don't know if any other neighbours have complained, we don't really speak to them. I doubt it though, the position of the balconies means the only people it's like to affect is us.

I might have to go down the social services route, much as I don't want to. I must admit I found it ironic that when my DH went downstairs the guy laid into him for ringing the doorbell as he could've disturbed their baby- they play music so loud it's probably already half deaf, and if it isn't it'll be that stoned it could sleep through a hurricane!

The thing is because the roof absorbs so much heat we need to be able to have our windows and balcony door open otherwise it just doesn't cool down- they've been open pretty much all day and it's still 26° in here. But because they're all on the same side of the flat, there's no through draught so the smoke just blows in and doesn't go anywhere. I had laundry out drying in the hall which I'll now have to wash again as it stinks of weed.

Just a warning OP- but be careful. They sound dog rough and probably won’t hesitate to take it out on you if they get into the shit.

I'm wondering whether to go down and speak to him today, see if I can appeal to his better nature?

Unfortunately diplomacy really isn’t my DHs strong suit. Besides, why should he be all apologetic? All he did was ring the doorbell. The neighbours are the ones breaking the law and filling our flat with weed smoke, and they aren’t unaware as we’ve spoken to them about it before. They know. They just don’t give a shit.

Your neighbour committed common assault when he threarened to bash your DP with a hammer. Call the police to report common assault and mention heavy drug use.

Look you have two options now your DH has spoken to them already and they've threatened him, you either put up with it or CALL THE POLICE! and social services.
If you don't want to give your details you don't have to with either agency but you need to put your big girl pants on and put up or call someone who can deal with it.

Ss or police wouldn't be interested in weed smoking parents, round here at least. Threatening with a hammer is a different story though!

As a side I have a few weed smoking friends and can't fault their parenting. The 'naicer' ones who down bottles of prosecco from 3pm and get absolutely trollied are rather questionable though!

1. People, even weed smokers, tend to smoke outside these days even in their own homes. It's moved a problem for some people, but hey, that's what they are meant to do.

2. The police just won't care.

3. It's shit, I get it. But there isn't much you can do.