To ask outright about this or should I be more subtle

[Stressedinlockdown]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or advice on our best course of action here.

Essentially we live in a semi detached. Next door is rented out. Since the most recent set of neighbours moved in last year we’ve noticed the smell of cannabis fills our back bedroom at night quite often. Wouldn’t normally care but that was the room we had our 9 month old baby sleeping in so have had to move her out into the box room which isn’t going to be ideal long term. We only began to notice it after we’d moved her into her own room from our room a few months ago and were going in when she woke up for a feed. We never spent much time in there before especially at night so never noticed it before deciding to put her in there.

Their tenancy was up this month so we decided to wait to see if they would be staying or renewing as the problem may have resolved itself if they left and new people moved in. However with the current pandemic it looks like they either must have to stay or wanted to stay as no signs of moving.

They’re an odd couple in the sense that they’ve never been overly friendly (happy for us to take in parcels almost daily for a good few months when they moved in but for example didn’t say congrats or anything when our baby was born-just odd) so they’re not exactly the most approachable so AIBU to just asking them outright if they’re smoking it and if so would they mind opening a window or something? Or should I ask in a more subtle way have they noticed any weird smells? I feel like we’re all adults so what’s the point in pussyfooting around it?

Also I’m not sure what we do if it continues even after speaking to them. Doubt police would do anything. I could inform the landlord as we know the guy and he’s pretty decent but again not sure he would/could do anything. Maybe environmental health?

As I say I don’t normally care what people do in their own home but when it’s coming into my property and potentially affecting my baby then that’s where I draw the line. Writing at this time of night as we’ve just been woken up by baby (in the other room) and I’ve gone into the back room to see if the smell was there again and it was.

Thanks. Hope you’re all staying safe

(Sorry if that was long trying to avoid drip feeding)

How bad is the smell? I had a neighbour many years ago that was growing cannabis in the room that adjoined my bedroom. The smell was overwhelming. It was so bad I couldn't sleep in there. They evenually got raided.

YANBU, cannabis smells rank. A neighbour partakes occasionally and it comes under my front door where my washing is drying and ruins it Luckily it's not often enough for me to kick up a fuss.

If you're brave enough (and you sound it), then yes, I would go round and just be direct but not pointed, i.e. would you mind smoking outside/open a window/whatever because xyz with baby's room. Don't go 'I know you're smoking cannabis!!' like some banshee

I'd mention it to the landlord.
I have a no smoking indoors clause on my tenancy contract and perhaps they have the same.

Don't be subtle about it if it's obviously cannabis, just be direct as in you've no issue them
Doing it but the smell is coming into your child's bedroom, can they keep the windows open.
They will probably do all they can as I imagine they don't want to be evicted if they have decided to stay.
And if they don't just report it to the landlord

I'd mention it to the landlord
Total waste of time. For one, you can't end a fixed tenancy on these grounds. For 2, they likely won't care.

Go and speak with them, not threatening them, just letting them know that the smell penetrate in your house and your baby's room and you'd like to discuss how this could be restricted.

Do consider that they might be/have been tolerating your baby's cries without saying anything, so try to be kind.

Thanks for all the advice. Honestly still not sure what to do. She’s fine for now in the other room. But then again they could stay for years and she’ll outgrow the box room so would like to be able to put her back in with peace of mind those fumes won’t be filling the room.

@dontdisturbmenow I hear what you’re saying but to be fair my baby’s crying isn’t an illegal substance or something I can remedy with opening a window or putting her outside and to be honest she doesn’t cry much (she did the first 12 weeks or so but not so much now) especially at night she just wakes up babbling which we only hear in the next room because of her monitor. So I don’t really think it’s a fair comparison.

Maybe ask them to open the window when they smoke.
I dont think environmental health would pick this up tbh.

I'd speak to the landlord; they may well have clauses that prevent them from smoking (or growing illegal substances!) In their contract.

The problem with asking them to open windows/take it outside is that you may well find that you can't open your windows without the smell getting in.

You seem very understanding about the situation and a fair neighbour. However, this is not good for your baby.

I have had a similar experience twice:

• The first was in my twenties. A strong smell of cannabis wafted up through my flat (and indeed the whole floor including the entrance way) from the flat downstairs. Not knowing the people living there at all, I went down to tell them. It turned out that they had a full hydroponic set up there 😮😮 Anyway, we became kind of friends and I was given a generous non-stop free personal supply on the understanding that I’d let them know whenever ‘the smell’ was around 😂
  That was many years ago.

• The experience that is more relevant to you concerns a flat I own and let. The couple there reported a strong smell of cannabis coming from the downstairs resident. They also have a small baby and were concerned. The tenant and I emailed the non-urgent local police and within a week, they had sent a community officer around to speak to the resident without mentioning who had reported. Couldn’t believe what great service from the local police! Really amazed and thankful for them, especially as the area is fairly high crime 🙏

How would you feel about trying the non-urgent police?

YANBU. Don’t engage with these types of people yourself.

Report to the police and report to the landlord.

I studied drugs laws last term and I am pretty sure it's an offence as a landlord to know tenants use cannabis in your property (weirdly doesn't matter about harder stuff).
So I'd report to the landlord. Will find the shelter report.

Yes offence under misuse of drugs act 8 part d. Knowing allowing someone to smoke cannabis in a property you occupy or manage.

dontdisturbmenow
I am a landlord and I would serve notice for breach of contract.
A previous tenant operated an acrylic nail parlour from my property and had the neighbours complaining because of the smell. The contract stipulated the flat was not to be used as a business premise which was grounds for eviction.