Neighbours smoking by our door

[hashbrownsandwich]

Next door neighbours have decided their place to smoke is on their patio, right next to my back door.

They've been chain smoking between the 4 of them all morning and it's literally wafting constantly through my house.

We are not smokers.

AIBU to explain to them it's unpleasant and could they maybe go to the end of the garden or something instead?

As much as other people's smoke is unpleasant and not something that you should have to put up with, you really can't say anything if they are in their own garden.
I totally understand we have a neighbour who does this right outside our livingroom window (semi detached and he choses to sit right beside the adjoining fence to smoke).

Ooo that's annoying. I'd either shut my door, or go and spray something in that general direction. Is it due to the breeze direction or will it always waft your way?

Annoying as it is, if that's where the patio is it might be worth thinking of workarounds. Can you put a trellis with some greenery along that bit of fence / wall? That might help direct smoke up rather than through your door.

I wouldn’t say anything because they’re not really doing anything wrong. It’s not up to you to choose the spot in their garden that they use to smoke, they can use any bit of their own garden that they like.

Its no different to noise being heard from other peoples gardens, or barbecue smells. All just things we have to deal with when we have neighbours.

Go spray air freshener at your door.

We had this with ndn guests. Dh asked them to go elsewhere as it is bloody vile.

I've unfortunately already tried some dramatic 'Oh I'll have to shut the door again as it reeks of cigarette smoke!' Type shouting to my husband/kids. It fell on deaf ears!

So gross but I’m not sure what you can do.
Reasonable people wouldn’t do it in the first place.

can you put an extension on top of the fence to physically block the smoke wafting over?

Agreed to an extent. OP, I do sympathise though. Try living in a house converted in to flats, and your neighbour come rain or shine, summer or winter sits or stands in the communal front door way and smokes around 20 a day, it's disgusting, the ash the smell the stagnant residue in the air. Even my DC has commented on it. Person couldn't care a less. Never even gave up before or whilst having children, also because 'others smoked whilst pregnant and their kids are okay' 🙄 then told during last pregnancy that their smoking might cause a smaller baby, response was 'well then I will just have a smaller baby then' 🤦‍♀️ Not only them doing it but anyone they have around as majority are smokers. But apparently we don't have rights about these types of things.

I would buy a large fan and send the smoke back at them, it is funny how little smokers like to sit in smoke! I'd also attach an "air freshener" to it , something really obnoxious - just a shame that durian ones aren't available in the UK!

Very passive aggressive!

I'd not move with that type of performance.

I hate smoking, but the obvious place for them to smoke is their patio, which is in their garden, so nothing can be done. You could ask but it will likely be a no.

Can you wash your back upstairs windows with a hosepipe?

I worked in the office at a care home where smoking was banned outside the building. But unfortunately you can't do that in people's private homes. I'd just keep spraying with Neutrodol outside the door. Also try fitting a smoke alarm by the back door to see if their smoke sets it off. I

They’re smoking beside their door which just happens to be beside your door. Not much you can do about it tbh 😢

I'm just going to have to put up and shut up!

I’d hate it but I think making loud passive aggressive comments won’t do you any favours! I’d ask them straight up politely if there’s any possibility they could move. Failing that I’d get a fan to put by the back door blowing outwards to hopefully ward off the smell.

Passive aggressive crap like that is more likely to make them spark up another cigarette than move away.

I had this issue and whenever we opened our child’s window for air on hot days - their cigarette smoke would fill his bedroom. They were 2 (narrow) houses away!!

I have to admit I lost my temper and banged on their gate and was so cross. They were heart and lung nurses at the local hospital but they just told me to fuck off.

When they sobered up, and stop playing loud Romanian rap music - they came over and apologised and didn’t do it again. They also promised to stop playing loud music at 8pm… (I didn’t even mention the music!!)

I was so bloody grateful! 🥺

@hashbrownsandwich Don’t lose your shit like I did. It’s so embarrassing!!

Don't do pass agg. Your only hope is to come across as a nice, approachable, friendly, reasonable person and ask them if they wouldn't mind smoking further away down the garden.

You could try opening a conversation, but quit the PA stuff!

Accidentally hose them down.

Fabulous idea, what could possibly go wrong....

Non smoker here, but not fazed by the smell of smoke, but hate the smell on a person when they've had a cigarette.

Sadly nothing you can do other than politely ask them to move from that area, but be cautious as they may take offence and make it a mission to annoy you with it, its their garden and they can smoke where they choose tbh.

Was out with friends for drinks last week in town , sat in the beer green, ash trays on each table, and my friends husband smoking.
Couple on next table complain, friends husband reminds them that he was driven from inside the pub to outside to smoke, and if they wanted a smoke free atmosphere then go sit inside.... I could see his point.

Why start off bad tempered?
They are allowed to enjoy their space.

Ask them really nicely and try and explain how it makes you feel and how far into the house it goes, apologise for saying this and explain that you understand it's their space to enjoy but that you wonder because it's also impacting your space to enjoy,is there anything they could do even a small tweak so it doesn't come in? Perhaps a little further from the House or slightly away from the back door.
Profusely apologize for asking...

They're smoking in their own garden. They're doing nothing wrong.

Can I ask your opinion in that case, what do you think about the bf of the tenant, whereby the bf is not a tenant at the property. Lighting a fire in this thing that is made for that, right at the side of the house and the heat and fumes rising up through my flat in this heatwave, again their space as their garden, but we are in flats in the same property. And all of that at 10pm at night, which went on for a couple of hours I had to close everything, and was coughing and wheezing so badly. From what was coming off of the fire.

Yep our neighbours sit out the front smoking weed and in their back garden near my granddaughters bedroom . Drives me bananas !!! Not sure how we can all stop these inconsiderate people it’s soo annoying