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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain to neighbours smoking in the garden?

235 replies

Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 15:39

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?

OP posts:
Guardsman18 · 24/10/2020 16:06

This is so funny!

BertieBloopsMum · 24/10/2020 16:08

We had something similar with our neighbours, they were piling up all the fallen apples from their tree and it absolutely stank on our side of the fence, they had no idea and happily moved the pile further away from us.

As long as you are polite and, dare I say, slightly apologetic, and explain that you're sure they have no idea where the smoke is going, they won't have a problem with moving the parabola/parallelogram.

AibuTellMe · 24/10/2020 16:10

Ask them op. Smoking stinks. When I was in a flat my neighbour below me used to smoke in their bathroom which was below mine and it travelled up and my flat stank like stale fags was minging. We had no garden so had clothing hanging up drying and they would stink. My son was only a toddler at the time. Hopefully your neighbours understand.

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:10

Bertie thanks, I'm sure they don't know it's a nuisance.
I wouldn't mind to make adjustments if it was the other way around. No one wants to annoy their neighbours - at least most people don't I'm sure

OP posts:
badacorn · 24/10/2020 16:10

I agree you should ask them to put up a fourth side.

They are probably trying to avoid stinking out their own house/exposing other family members to passive smoking so they should understand you don’t want that either. I doubt it’ll cause a big argument.

Whammyyammy · 24/10/2020 16:11

Its none of your business what they do in their garden.

CottonSock · 24/10/2020 16:11

Are you my near neighbour the other side?? It's weed they are smoking and my house reeks. Cigarettes too, but the weed smells worse.

Potionqueen · 24/10/2020 16:13

They sound like very selfish neighbours. Feel sorry for you.

Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:13

Oh cotton sock that sounds miserable. Our neighbours are only smoking cigarettes which is enough of a nuisance .

OP posts:
BoulangerieBabs · 24/10/2020 16:14

Right so we've ascertaineddespite Op ignoring me that it's a pergola.

Do pergolas have sides these days? Wouldn't that be a gazebo?

@snowplop a pagoda ina suburban back garden would've been awesome Grin

Devillishlypicklypickles · 24/10/2020 16:15

I live in the countryside and when I open my windows it smells like poop. I have asked the sheep/cows and ponies to stop it but they just look at me blankly, so rude.

Ihatefish · 24/10/2020 16:15

Op I really feel for you. The smell of smoke is disgusting and gets everywhere. I would ask them to move the open side of the shelter (maybe so it faces down the garden (or they could smoke in their house and make it stink)

BoulangerieBabs · 24/10/2020 16:15

Ffs strike through fail.

BertieBloopsMum · 24/10/2020 16:18

@Potionqueen

They sound like very selfish neighbours. Feel sorry for you.
There'll only be selfish if they have been told about the situation but don't care/do anything.
Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:18

Boulangerie if you read the thread you would have seen me correct parabola when it was pointed out earlier that I had written it in error

OP posts:
Okbutnotgreat · 24/10/2020 16:20

If they are normally decent people then I can’t see why it would be a problem to ask them to block your side and open the other. If they’re not nice people you could try putting a higher fence pane along side the pergola to try and block the smell a little but personally I’d find a very big powerful fan and direct it at the pergola to blow the fumes back at them.

OP you have my sympathies. They have every right to smoke outside but not to intentionally pollute your house.

BoulangerieBabs · 24/10/2020 16:21

@Quickncjust4this

Boulangerie if you read the thread you would have seen me correct parabola when it was pointed out earlier that I had written it in error
Yes and I'm sulking because I asked first and you never replied
Original poster
Quickncjust4this · 24/10/2020 16:22

Devilishly that's a ridulous comment to make isn't it?! Countryside smells are to be expected, can't be avoided and won't do you any harm.
Cigarette smoke is not to be expected (unless you smoke or still live in the 1970's), can be avoided and is incredibly harmful.
Bertie I'm inclined to agree. I don't consider to them to be selfish , as they can't be aware of the level of nuisance caused unless I tell them

OP posts:
MJMG2015 · 24/10/2020 16:23

Definitely go and ask them to stop smoking move it to the other side of the garden & face the other way.

It's massively inconsiderate of them to put it where they have. But a lot of smokers are massively inconsiderate Bellends. 🤷🏻‍♀️

unmarkedbythat · 24/10/2020 16:26

I smoke. I would want to know I was causing you this problem. I would want to fix it. Blocking the side that faces you and opening the other up seems entirely reasonable.

HagarTheHorrible · 24/10/2020 16:28

Utter bollocks but props for resurrecting an old favourite for anti smoker frothers. Haven't seen one since covid appeared.

LakieLady · 24/10/2020 16:29

@Devillishlypicklypickles

I live in the countryside and when I open my windows it smells like poop. I have asked the sheep/cows and ponies to stop it but they just look at me blankly, so rude.
Huh, you're lucky you can only smell it @Devillishlypicklypickles.

The stable lads from the nearby racing yard let their horses shit in the street, right outside my house, and they don't even bother to pick up after them and put it in a poo bin. Wink

Taymom · 24/10/2020 16:30

Same sentiments. I have a neighbor who smoke in their balcony 3 x a day! Since we live next door we can smell the smoke from our window.
We can't do anything about it because legally speaking they can do whatever they want within their property.

We just close our windows whenever he smokes LOL But yeah its kind of annoying and hoping they move somewhere soon haha

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 24/10/2020 16:30

As long as you approach them politely and friendly and just say would they mind perhaps putting an extra panel on or moving it over a little because the smell of the smoke is coming into your house, then I can't imagine that would be a problem. Unless they are unreasonable people.

LakieLady · 24/10/2020 16:31

@MJMG2015

Definitely go and ask them to stop smoking move it to the other side of the garden & face the other way.

It's massively inconsiderate of them to put it where they have. But a lot of smokers are massively inconsiderate Bellends. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think you'll find that it's wind direction that determines which way the smoke goes, not the way the smoker is facing.