Neighbour smoking on balcony

[PorridgeWobbler]

We have a relatively new neighbour in the flat immediately next to ours. Now that the weather is improving he seems to spend a lot of time on his balcony smoking cigarettes and weed. Yesterday it was about every 2-3 hours. The smell is horrendous and the prevailing wind flows it straight in through our windows. It’s as if someone is smoking inside our flat. I work from home so notice every time he smokes. Last night he lit up again at 11pm so I had to shut our bedroom windows despite it being very hot. I have young children and their bedrooms also end up stinking of smoke.

I feel I need to say something because it is vile and bad for our health. But I also appreciate that it’s his balcony and he can technically do what he wants on it. What should I say?

AIBU to complain to him?

I would hate this too, but I've no idea if you can do anything about it.

It's up to him. Nothing you can reasonably do.

Only thing you can do is make him aware. If he's a decent enough person,he'll be a bit more considerate in the future.

Nothing you can do about it

He is smoking on his balcony, 🤷‍♀️. You can only control smoking in your home.

Close your windows and pop in a air purifier.

This isn’t any kind of solution. I’m in London and it’s 32 degrees today - I can’t just keep my windows shut.

I also don’t think and air purifier will have any impact.

I'd tell him and he might change where he smokes, it's worth an ask. Most smokers are quite considerate I've found.

Yes you can ask but remember he can say no.

There isn't going to be anywhere else convenient for him to do it. The balcony is it.
Bad luck.

Tell him. You’re already mindful that it is his own balcony. Just explain you have young kids and the smell really comes into your flat. He might understand and smoke elsewhere, or do it less often. All you can do is try, but be kind

Why don’t you ask him to text you when he’s heading outside for a smoke. Then close the windows, wait 10 mins and all should be clear.

He might not realise and if you tell him he might do the decent thing and go downstairs.

He might not in care which case there's nothing you can do.

Hope for the best and have a nice chat and see if you can get things sorted.

If he had a fan and/ or a carbon air filter it might help - if you approach him with some suggested solutions and ask him to try some of them / come up with his own while saying you appreciate it’s his space but your children are breathing in cannabis and cigarette smoke regularly now I think most people would want to not be an arsehole. Have you googled which letting agency the property was let through? You might need to report him to his landlord if he is an outright arsehole So find & keep the letting agency info now if you can before rental ad disappears

The purifier can reduce smells. Previous experience living in capital city amongst smokers. Can you get an AC unit or a cooling fan?

@PorridgeWobbler not to be that person but this is when you should keep your windows shut. Opening them at 32 degrees will just make your flat warmer.

Open the windows wide early (like 6am) and late (after dark) otherwise keep them shut with the window coverings closed.

You'll thank me later tonight.

Is he a council tenant, private tenant, or a leaseholder or a freeholder?

There’s sure to be someone you can escalate this to. You just need to know his status first.

He's not going to agree to or do that ffs. Texting his neighbour every time he wants a smoke? Don't be daft.

You can let him know but as others said, you have no rights or entitlement here, he’s allowed to smoke on his balcony.

thing is he is likely to say no, as he’s not going to want to traipse down and out every time he wants to smoke, so it’s either stop or use his balcony. So I think shutting your adjacent windows is the only option, even though it’s hot.

Yes I chuckled at that. 😂

I would hate it too but I don't think there's anything you can do, he's on his own property not in a public place

You would be unreasonable to complain to him as it really is his business. You would not be unreasonable to mention it to him in a nice way and appeal to his better nature. If you stress the smell is quite overwhelming at times he might be embarrassed enough to moderate his behaviour a bit. Not sure he will have anywhere else to go though. An air purifier really might make a difference in the flat.

This isn’t any kind of solution. I’m in London and it’s 32 degrees today - I can’t just keep my windows shut.

Opening your window in that heat will just heat your flat up. Windows and blinds closed will keep your flat cooler.

Honestly i get that this is annoying but if he doesn't wish to spoke in his flat, then without walking outside every time he wants a cig, the balcony is his only option.
you can ask but Im not sure there is much you can do about this,
Joys of living in close proximity to other people

Is it rented?

If so contact the landlord about their weed smoking.

For legally smoking on his balcony?

You cannot really do much about the smoking of cigarettes. It may be unpleasant but he is allowed to smoke there so not much you can do.

In regards to the weed, you could try contacting the police and asking them to speak with him, but if he only possesses small amounts for personal use they won't take a great deal of action. Although if they would agree to come and speak to him it may dissuade him smoking it in public.

For neighbourly relations it's probably best to just have a chat and let him know how much the smoke in entering your property. He may try to be considerate, or may not. But it's worth a try before official routes as it avoids a neighbour dispute on record, which may put off potential buyers when it comes time to sell.