To complain to neighbours smoking in the garden?

[Quickncjust4this]

Our neighbours have recently installed a canvas covered parabola thing in their garden, with one side (the side pointing towards our garden) left open.

They are now using this as an all seasons smoking shelter. Many times through the day and most evenings they are sat out there puffing away.

The problem is it is completely stinking out my house. The whole of our top floor now stinks of smoke. I've shut the windows be it is still coming in through the vents. I've bought new air fresheners which help but it's still awful.

As non smokers it's really unbearable for us I'm also worried about young children and the health effect to them.

Would I be unreasonable to ask them to stop, or at least to add a 4th panel to their shelter to reduce what reaches our home?

Yes. They are allowed to smoke in there garden and you really run the risk of starting a massive argument. The weather is turning so imagine your windows will be shut anyway. Is it really worth causing a massive rift?

Shut windows AND vents

• if it's still coming in then you have a problem bigger than smoke

Open windows at front of house

I can't see why it would need to be a massive argument? Currently they are ruining our enjoyment of our home and are likely totally unaware of that.
Surely it wouldn't be a big issue for them to move to the other side of their house or to enclose their smoking place completely by adding a 4th panel?

maybe ask if they would consider a 4th side, but no you can't ask them to stop its their property and smoking isn't illegal.

Where were they smoking before they installed the shelter?

They can smoke in their garden... yabu

Witches, inside I assume. Occasionally we would notice the cigarette smell if we were all using our gardens, but it wasn't such a massive nuisance, we certainly didn't notice it inside.
I wonder if the parabola is compounding the issue. They are definately outside more which could be it but it also seems to be directing the smoke our way

I never understand this. So you're saying that the smoke from a couple of cigarettes has drifted up from ground floor to your upstairs windows, and got through the vents AND managed to stink out your house without dissipating on the way at all? Defying the laws of physics like that is really impressive.

Sparkl fairy as someone with a master's degree in physics and a PhD in a related field, I can tell you it does not defy the rules of physics. What a silly comment.

What's a parabola?

They're allowed to smoke in their own garden

They are definately outside more which could be it but it also seems to be directing the smoke our way

Yes, if the only open side is next to your house, the smoke will escape in that direction.

I think you should talk to them about repositioning the shelter or at least, the open part of it.

I do understand they are allowed to smoke on their property, and I'm not looking for an argument with our neighbours. It is though really bothering us and I wonder what we could reasonably ask them to do about it. Perhaps the 4th side to the parabola or changing the open side to the other end (they are last in our row of houses) would be the best option

@Quickncjust4this

Sparkl fairy as someone with a master's degree in physics and a PhD in a related field, I can tell you it does not defy the rules of physics. What a silly comment.

Congratulations. In that case, close your vents and let people do what they want in their own gardens.

Try having skunk seeping in from next door. Just lovely

Maybe ask about repositioning the gazebo? Otherwise leave it as they'll think you're nuts.

Do you mean pergola?

You can ask them to reposition as the new set up make sit go to your house.
They may or may not change it. Depends on your relationship.

IF you can say to them that you don't have any objection of course to them smoking and they're perfectly within their rights and it wasn't a problem before BUT that the particular way they've got the gazebo set up is having the effect of sending smoke your way and would they be able to swap the panels round for which you'd be grateful ................. that's fine.

Anything less measured than this will end in a dispute which may not be worth it!

Yes sorry shroders it's a pergola!

What's a parabola when it's at home?

Anyway, as a smoker, who smokes in the garden, if it could be smelt in my neighbours house, I'd toot away further away from their house. No need at all for a row, I'd be happy to move.

Is it cigarette smoke? The way you describe it it sounds like cannabis. In either case you have my sympathy - I'd hate it and would be miserable. I love having my windows open year round.

I must ask about the parabola though. Do you mean a pergola? Or a pagoda?

You wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask them to help mitigate the smoke coming into your house. Just depends on how you ask as to how likely they are to cooperate. If it’s done on a friendly basis, polite, not confrontational, they might be sympathetic. Sounds like they don’t like it in their own home so they might understand you don’t want it in yours.

Gu24 mum thank you. Yes this is certainly how we would word it.
We don't want to fall out, and it's none of our business whether or not they smoke it's only created a problem for us since they've set up this smoking shelter and it's all now flooding into our upstairs

@Quickncjust4this

Sparkl fairy as someone with a master's degree in physics and a PhD in a related field, I can tell you it does not defy the rules of physics. What a silly comment.

I know you have a PhD but do you mean a pergola instead of a parabola?

Honestly OP, the smell of fags makes me feel sick, but even I think YABU

They can smoke all day every day in their garden. Just open windows at the front, or if you really can't bear it, you will have to move.

Snowplop yes it's cigarette smoke