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?

You’re right, I should just stay away from this site as there’s some oddballs on here with no concept of reality.

As others have said it may depend on his status as to what you can do. If he is renting there maybe something in his lease about not smoking (although how you find that out I don’t know) but if he owns the flat there is not much you can do unless the building itself has some rules about where smoking is/isn’t allowed and you have a manager who will do something.

As for smoking weed, I doubt the police will care but you could ask them.

You could always ask him to be more considerate and smoke elsewhere but I doubt he will care that much from what you have said.

good luck.

cannabis is not always illegal now. You can get it from doctors and they supply it to with your prescription. Though they prefer you vape it. There is nothing to do really except shut the windows and get an ac unit or a filter. Open them late at night, shut in the morning and draw the curtains and your flat will be way cooler anyway.

😂😂😂

Something you need to live with unfortunately. My neighbour right now is smoking whacky backy and it's coming into my living room as balcony door is open.

If it’s happening every 2-3 hours then that’s not particularly heavy smoking is it? Unless he is going elsewhere at other times. With that frequency surely it’s doable to just close them when you see him out there, wait 10/15 mins then open them again?
Get yourself some fans?
You could try having a polite word with him, he may not be aware it’s blowing into your home.

Why on earth should she have to do that?

His balcony, and smoking is legal. There is nothing you can do.

Smoking is legal. What would you be escalating for? 🤷‍♀️

Awful OP.
Get a really noisy fan and turn it on every time he goes out there blowing in his direction.

I have the exact same issue. I’ve spoken to the neighbour and been very polite and made myself out to be the issue.. I lied and said I had asthma and would he please send me a text when he was about to smoke. Then I’d close my window for ten mins. It’s not ideal but there isn’t any other option, it’s his flat and he’s entitled to do what he wants. He might even smoke on the other side or go downstairs.. you never know.

I do that with my neighbour. I’ve explained that it bothers me but he explained he can smoke on his balcony. What else can I do?

Which might also mean that the neighbour doesn’t have to put up with the incessant noise of children next door. I imagine he’s silently fuming that the OP is so inconsiderate as to leave the windows open 24/7 with small children in the flat, but realises it’s unreasonable to complain about it. Just part of urban living ;)

I can totally see why it’s annoying and he may try and cut it down but the reality is that he can smoke on his balcony if he wants and legally the is nothing you can do to stop him. He is unlikely to leave his flat every time he wants a smoke as he sounds like a heavy smoker so not sure who practical that would be .