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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour smoking cigars in garden

32 replies

lovelibrary · 28/07/2025 21:16

We live in a semi-detached house. Both our house and our neighbour’s house (ie the one attached to us) have patio areas leading from kitchen to garden.

Our neighbour has started to smoke cigars on his patio area. The smell is really nasty - I don’t think these are expensive cigars! The issue is that the smoke wafts over and enters our house if we have any windows open. It is making the rooms at the back of our house stink, which includes a child’s bedroom.

I can’t decide whether I should have a gentle word with the neighbour, explain what we can smell and suggest that he smokes at the bottom of his garden.

Is that a reasonable request? Or do most think it’s unreasonable?

Our general relationship with said neighbours is ok-ish. We do say hello to each other, put bins out when on holiday, etc. But we have also had some fallings out over building work.

We have overheard conversations about why the neighbour has started to smoke cigars - apparently they help him to relax.

OP posts:
DoneitagainhaventI · 28/07/2025 21:28

How absolutely horrible for you OP.

I'm afraid my experience with neighbours and smoking has been a very negative one. I would assume if you ask this person to smoke at the bottom of his garden he won't take it well and will probably go down the route of saying he can smoke wherever he wants in his own house and garden.
I may be totally wrong but that's what I would expect the reaction to be.

Whammyyammy · 28/07/2025 21:29

Neighbour smokes cigars in HIS garden...

Trophy136 · 28/07/2025 21:29

lovelibrary · 28/07/2025 21:16

We live in a semi-detached house. Both our house and our neighbour’s house (ie the one attached to us) have patio areas leading from kitchen to garden.

Our neighbour has started to smoke cigars on his patio area. The smell is really nasty - I don’t think these are expensive cigars! The issue is that the smoke wafts over and enters our house if we have any windows open. It is making the rooms at the back of our house stink, which includes a child’s bedroom.

I can’t decide whether I should have a gentle word with the neighbour, explain what we can smell and suggest that he smokes at the bottom of his garden.

Is that a reasonable request? Or do most think it’s unreasonable?

Our general relationship with said neighbours is ok-ish. We do say hello to each other, put bins out when on holiday, etc. But we have also had some fallings out over building work.

We have overheard conversations about why the neighbour has started to smoke cigars - apparently they help him to relax.

Completely unreasonable. You can’t dictate where your neighbours smoke cigars. If it was weed i would have a different opinion though.

CarCrashLifes · 28/07/2025 21:31

He can do what he wants in his garden! You would be making an unreasonable request.

Brenda34 · 28/07/2025 21:31

YABU though I have a ton of sympathy with you.
You'll need to close your windows.

Grantanow · 28/07/2025 21:31

Needs careful handling. He is entirely within his rights to smoke in his property. Full disclosure: I smoke Havanas on my back patio without complaint.

Anotherparkingthread · 28/07/2025 21:34

Eh you can ask him but he can ignore you. It's his garden at the end of the day.

DiscoBob · 28/07/2025 21:34

If he's doing it very close to your house then you could ask politely if he could move closer to his own home or further down the garden. Just away from your windows basically.

He could fail to adhere to it but if it bothers you you can ask. Ultimately it is his property so you can't force him not to.

Vivienne1000 · 28/07/2025 21:35

Does he smoke when it’s cold? Hang on because the colder weather will be with us before we know it.

Rizzz · 28/07/2025 21:37

I don’t think these are expensive cigars!

Dafuq has that got to do with it? 🤣🤣

I feel your pain though.

I hate fag smoke, cigar smoke, bonfire smoke, BBQ smoke but there's little you can do about it really.

Dangermoo · 28/07/2025 21:37

Whammyyammy · 28/07/2025 21:29

Neighbour smokes cigars in HIS garden...

Quite. Seriously.

EvilNextDoor · 28/07/2025 21:41

You can ask, he can completely ignore you.

I know I would ignore a request like this. Not that I smoke cigars or cigarettes.

EfficientWordsmith · 28/07/2025 21:44

The smoke will still find its way into your home..even at a distance. I know because my neighbour smokes weed at the bottom of the garden and it permeates my home.

SweetFancyMoses · 28/07/2025 21:47

Not unreasonable to politely ask. ‘I know you enjoy a cigar, but would you mind smoking them away from our house as the smell is getting into our rooms?’ A nice neighbour would say, ‘sorry, I don’t realise and of course I don’t mind doing that’.

Justchilling07 · 28/07/2025 21:50

Whammyyammy · 28/07/2025 21:29

Neighbour smokes cigars in HIS garden...

yes we know it’s HIS garden, is it too much to ask for just a bit of consideration.How would you feel if you had to close all your windows and all you can smell is cigars in YOUR house.
OP, you’re not being unreasonable.Interestingly the people who are saying you are, probably also smoke
only care about themselves.Selfish.

Original poster
lovelibrary · 28/07/2025 21:55

Rizzz · 28/07/2025 21:37

I don’t think these are expensive cigars!

Dafuq has that got to do with it? 🤣🤣

I feel your pain though.

I hate fag smoke, cigar smoke, bonfire smoke, BBQ smoke but there's little you can do about it really.

I was just trying to convey how nasty I find the smell. He also has BBQs and bonfires, but I don’t find the smell from them as bad.

OP posts:
Jujujudo · 28/07/2025 21:56

I live in a flat with neighbours to the sides and above and below. One of them smokes every evening on the side of my kids’ bedroom. I went over and said that I have no right to ask but would she mind moving to the other side of her balcony? She was lovely and that was that. If she had said no then I’d close all the windows while she smoked. There’s not much you can do. My husband smokes weed and I hate the smell. I object to him smoking anywhere near the kids so he doesn’t. He also asked the neighbours above us if they could smell it and they said no so he smokes on the balcony. If someone complained he’d just go downstairs instead. We all have to live together and learn who we can talk to and who we just have to accept and adapt to.

DurinsBane · 28/07/2025 21:58

No harm and nothing wrong with asking. Equally he doesn’t have to change is smoking location. Up to him on how much he wants good neighbourly relationships

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/07/2025 22:06

DurinsBane · 28/07/2025 21:58

No harm and nothing wrong with asking. Equally he doesn’t have to change is smoking location. Up to him on how much he wants good neighbourly relationships

This really. You can but ask,..

Dutchhouse14 · 28/07/2025 22:08

We have this too, but a pipe smoker, can't really say anything though as they are in their own garden.
Very annoying if it comes into your house, I'd just close the windows (loudly) while he's smoking, maybe he'll get the hint but I can't imagine it takes ages to smoke a cigar (or does it? Actually no idea!)

Aaaallthefood · 28/07/2025 22:20

I think if you’ve any chance at all in this being successful you say ‘I know this is super cheeky, and I know I’ve no right at all to ask but your cigar smoke smells quite strong and is coming in DC’s bedroom at night, is there any chance at all that you would considering moving a bit further down the garden/ away from our windows…but of course I entirely appreciate if not, you are entitled to smoke where you like in your own home, but I just thought I’d ask’. A nice neighbour would probably say yes.

*edited for typo

Vaxtable · 28/07/2025 22:24

I would ask him if he can move to the other side of the patio or something and explain it’s getting in your house and your child’s room

if he refuses then I would simply stand out there with an air freshener and spray it at the fence as the smoke comes over, and if it goes into his garden and onto him, oh well never mind

Original poster
lovelibrary · 28/07/2025 22:33

Dutchhouse14 · 28/07/2025 22:08

We have this too, but a pipe smoker, can't really say anything though as they are in their own garden.
Very annoying if it comes into your house, I'd just close the windows (loudly) while he's smoking, maybe he'll get the hint but I can't imagine it takes ages to smoke a cigar (or does it? Actually no idea!)

He smokes for hours each day. It was from around 4-9pm today for example.

OP posts:
hexagongoldbox · 28/07/2025 22:34

You should have said it was a vape OP everyone would have agreed with you then. There is something way less working class about cigars though !

Yomper22 · 28/07/2025 22:37

My DH smokes cigars fairly regularly on our patio, albeit they are very expensive premium ones and we are detached. But he has never received a complaint, and a neighbour once complimented the smell before baulking at the price when he enquired!

Edited to add - YABU