Neighbours smoking driving us mad!

[mag2305]

Our neighbours are renting the house next door. We live in an old terraced cottage so our garden is really close to theirs and small too so no real distance between us. It's a young mum and dad plus two little ones under 3. From about 8am to at least 8pm, they come outside to smoke pretty continuously, either together or separately. As the weather is so warm, we like to have windows open but can't because the cigarette smell is coming through all the time. If we sit outside, it's drifting over. I'm pregnant and have a young child so I feel even more aware of it. They're very young parents and I kind of feel for them as they don't appear to work, neither drives and so they're both stuck at home a lot.
But we really want to say something about the smoking but don't know if we have a right to? Or is it going to cause problems? And I do wonder, even if I said, I'm pregnant and have a toddler, could they see the problem anyway as they smoke over their own little ones outside!
Awkward!! Any thoughts?

I think, op, that a lot of people have become over concerned at smoking outdoors and turned it into the big monster above lots of other pollutants we're exposed to every day.
I honestly think it's not necessary to be over anxious about it.

Although, I will just say that they also have the loudest young pug who barks at everything all day out there too. All day!! They bring him in at night but he barks out there the rest of the time. And he's never walked. So with the smoking, we're not doing very well.

Put planters with bamboo along the fence, it will act as a baffle.

The fact that they're young, they rent or don't work is totally irrelevant.

I dont care for the smell of cigarette smoke either, but unless you ask nicely and they agree, not a lot you can do sorry

@Onceuponatime1818

I hope all cities go smoke free like some are planning to 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾 It’s revolting

NOBODY can tell anyone not to smoke in their own garden!!! 🤣

@vee

We have a similar issue with our neighbours and their alcohol - the fumes are drifting over and I am worried about passive drinking - and that's aside from their BO.

It’s not illegal but it’s annoying. I have one window in my flat living area and other flats stand under it to smoke or hold it out of their window. It’s keep windows closed and die of heat. There’s no sense asking them most smokers get really aggressive over “it’s their right” and can’t comprise at all to give each time to enjoy space or open windows. Still if they are renting fingers crossed they may move in a year?

@veeeeh I'm 37 weeks pregnant, being very cautious still with covid and working from home teaching. And have a toddler. So I can't really help being at home too much.

@DynamoKev

We have a similar issue with our neighbours and their alcohol - the fumes are drifting over and I am worried about passive drinking - and that's aside from their BO.

How on EARRRRRRRRRRRTH 'alcohol fumes' drifting?!?! Don't be so utterly, utterly ludicrous! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Nothing you can do

@DynamoKev

We have a similar issue with our neighbours and their alcohol - the fumes are drifting over and I am worried about passive drinking - and that's aside from their BO.

This is the most shocking thing I've ever read on Mumsnet

I’ve got new neighbours and I sat outside yesterday and could smell smoke for much of the day which really put me off. (They are owners and obviously retired I would say, not that that’s relevant apart from they will probably be around a lot.) As pps have said, I don’t think you can do anything. Tbh the dog would annoy me much more.

@omgthepain

I'd phone the letting agent who rents the house and tell them

They'll probably just be grateful they're smoking outside, and not inside.

@Akire yeh fingers crossed or maybe we should move

Cigarettes are legal and available to buy in a lot of places. Can't see the government banning the sale of them as they are a good revenue earner for the treasury.

YANBU for being annoyed, as it stinks. YABU for thinking you've got the right to do anything about it - their garden, so they can smoke in it.

Gross. It stinks

At least the dog isn't on it's own outside....

I would ask if they mind smoking in the front instead.

Oh gosh they have a barking dog as well!!

@KnottedFern

Renting, young parents who don't work, completely irrelevant and very judgy of you. If you find their smoking an issue talk to them about it.

Yes the dog whistle details are deafening.

Oh come on are all of you saying it sounds judgy and you shouldn't judge really telling me that if you knew a young, unemployed couple with kids, who smoke all day long, have a bloody annoying happy dog and shout at the kids loads you wouldn't judge them?! Cos I don't believe you. Not for a second. I judge people who smoke just to start with, let alone people who aren't working so spending a substantial amount of their benefits on cigarettes when we all know that benefits aren't exactly generous and cigarettes cost a bomb. The amount of times we were told as kids we can't afford this or that, but mother had her cigarettes of course 🙄.
Op I really feel for you. But unfortunately I don't think there is anything you can do. Except move but of course that doesn't mean you won't be in a similar position in the future unfortunately

*yappy

@KnottedFern

Oh gosh they have a barking dog as well!!

A barking pug no less. I might be being a little mean OP but your posts don’t sound all that genuine re your ‘concern’ for how hard your neighbours are finding life. No real judgement, if they annoy you, they annoy you, but the faux concern is a bit much. Imo. As for the smoking, you could mention it to them, but realistically what do you actually expect them to do? You say they are small gardens so they can’t move away as such and they’re definitely not going to quit because their neighbours don’t like it that they smoke. Potentially you’re just going to cause friction / bad feeling for no pay off. I do sympathise to an extent tho. My husband smokes which isn’t really an issue in itself as he always smokes outside and not really around me, but it gets my back up when he finishes his smoke at the front door after work, and stands right under our bedroom window 🤦🏼‍♀️ he just needs gently reminding once in a while....

We have a similar issue with our neighbours and their alcohol - the fumes are drifting over and I am worried about passive drinking - and that's aside from their BO.

@DynamoKev you need to log it with 101. Have you phoned the letting agent and grassed them up? You should probably get your MP on the case too. And have you tried knocking at their door with wine and nice chocs and breezily ordering them to stop fucking existing? Third hand fumes are dangerous, my uncle's cat's friend of a friend once caught a whiff of Martini Bianco across a garden wall and fifty years later dropped down dead. Shocking.