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?

Of course you cannot do anything and I am sure you piss him off too.

Living in London is like that. "Ive got kids" so, who gives a shit?
FGS ONE DAY of hot weather.😂

It's worth a chat I'd have thought. I smoked when I was a feckless teen and the neighbours (of our student house) asked us if we could stop smoking right outside the back door as it was making their kids' room smell. We were fine to move to the end of the garden. We just weren't aware.

It doesn't matter what he is, he's having a fag/spliff on his balcony and there's no official body which will deal with this.

The only thing you can change is your perspective, so close the windows and shut the blinds (this is standard practice in most hot countries during the day), get an air purifier/ac unit/fan and embrace it as part of urban living.

I hate the perception that if he is just a tenant (paying 1,000s) he has less right to use his balcony than a freeholder.

As for texting you for your permission to smoke a spliff. Laughable.

Why ?
I'm a housing association tenant we are allowed to smoke in our house and garden if we so wish 🙄🙄

The hysteria about weed on this site is hilarious

Talk to him about it nicely the first time, if there's no effect speak to his landlord (if renting). If he's an owner it's trickier, but not sure why others are saying there's nothing you can do. Weed is actually illegal so I'd call the police every time he does it. They probably won't want to take it seriously but I'd keep bugging them and reminding them it's against the law. At the very least they can have a word with him about it.
And yeah, it might be his balcony but what he's doing is really anti social.
If none of the official channels work I'd play him at his own game - every time he smokes I'd put on music right beside the balcony. I suggest Russian orthodox chants or opera, or whatever you think will annoy him. After all, if he can do what he wants in his home then so can you, but I'm petty like that.

That and the whole tell teacher on him.

'@Gingerdancedbackwards ·
The hysteria about weed on this site is hilarious'

Yes imagine people not wanting someone forcing the stink of weed in their own home, especially if they have kids.

I think there is definitely some truth about weed affecting the brain and making people incredibly daft if we go by your comment...

I wonder how he feels living next to 2 children.
I would not up the music; he can do much better.

What do you think the landlord ( if he has one ) will do about him smoking on his balcony 🤔

Check whether the leasehold conditions allow this - DD's don't allow smoking anywhere within the flats including communal areas and balconies

This is the right advice. It sounds awful OP, hopefully he is just blythly unaware of how it is impacting you, and will change up his schedule to be more considerate if he knows.

Good luck!

I’d reasonable to ask however he is also not being unreasonable to smoke in his own balcony.

I don't think it is hysteria, so much as that a lot of weed smokers are unaware of how smelly their smoking is and how unpleasant this can be for others.

We all know that clouds of tobacco smoke are antisocial, not sure why people think that the same complaint should not also apply to weed.

Weed smells disgusting. Smoke smells disgusting.
Noise pollution is absolutely horrendous.

But, you can do what you wish in your expensive London flat.

If I were told off by my neighbour I would turn into a chain smoker.

TBH, this is what most people do. A lot of folks are unaware of which direction the smell travels. Most people do not care if you smoke (weed or cigs) they just don't want it coming in their house.

I like to think most people are considerate enough to just change a time/ location if asked nicely.

If a neighbour asked you nicely though? Or are you just not a very nice person?

Cannabis is illegal, so they can be done for that.

If your flat is local authority, check with them about smoking on the balcony. I think there are rules re quality of air.

If it's private, there will be rules & regs regarding smoking on the premises, which includes the balcony.

But, you can do what you wish in your expensive London flat.

I mean you really can't. There's a really long list of things you can't do.

YWBU to complain to him, he's on his own balcony.

YWNBU to politely ask him if he would consider going elsewhere to smoke at least sometimes. But he probably won't tbh.

It sucks, I hate the smell of smoke, but there's not much you can do. If he's alone and you have DC your noise probably bugs him.

@x2boys lots of leases forbid smoking in the property, that's been the case for everywhere I've rented. Also illegal activities, which possessing weed is.

I am a very nice person thank you.

Just sick of living in city flats with people with screaming DCs next door thinking they rule the roost.

I do not smoke FWIW.

Are you a nice person? You sound very confrontational to me.

He isn't doing anything unreasonable. He's smoking on his own premises and there isn't anything you can do.

I feel your pain i hate the smell of cigarettes

Maybe everytime he lights up. Light an incense stick on your balcony so you get a nice smell and sends a passive aggressive statement

Poor you. I would hate this. You’ll just have to ask him really nicely and hope he’s not a selfish twat (as so many smokers are).