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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to knock and tell my neighbours what dirty, smelly, filthy, smoking bastards they are?

98 replies

VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 06:36

because my 3yr has been up all night long coughing and i am permanently wheezing (asthma) because they smoke so much my house smells like a fucking ashtray, seriously, the smell is so strong it knocks you out

Fucking sick of it, sick of wheezing, and sick of waking up to the taste of cigarette smoke in my mouth [angry)

OP posts:
Original poster
VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 06:36
Angry
OP posts:
Flightattendant · 27/01/2010 06:41

You need to move I think, telling them won't stop them and they might punch you

Sounds absolutely appalling, it really does. I sometimes want to shout obscenities at our neighbours for smoking next to our front door but usually resist...I speak in loud whispers instead.

I will never understand why people are allowed to poison each other like this.

Are you able to get some kind of insulation, draught excluders etc - where is smell coming in?

Original poster
VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 07:14

Cant afford to move unfortunately, they smell is very strong on my landing, i think its coming from under the stairs, these houses are very poorly built and belong to a housing trust

Can i phone environmental health or local council

Or maybe just get a hitman

OP posts:
Flightattendant · 27/01/2010 07:17

Hitman may be your best option...

I wonder if you could somehow insert some kid of smelly fish into their walls so they feel they have to move, and you might get someone nicer?

sounds like an awful situation. I wonder if having a word with them would stop it but sadly with smoking people don't want to just stop, or can't, or something...

Flightattendant · 27/01/2010 07:18

kind, not kid obv

Cyb · 27/01/2010 07:20

vinegar have you got woden floors or carpet?

TheOldestCat · 27/01/2010 07:24

Haver you contacted the housing trust for some advice? Not sure what they could do, but worth a go?

You have my sympathies - we moved last year after six years of living in a flat above a smoker. Every time he had a 'Bensons bath' our bathroom stank; I hated it. It was worse in the summer when he opened his window, creating a convection current.

Maybe there's something that can be done for you (insulation in walls?). Hope so.

Original poster
VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 09:04

Have lived in my house 20 years, smoking bastards moved in last year

I have wooden floors downstairs and carpet upstairs, the walls under the stairs and in the loft are not insulated, you can see the bare breeze blocks, the smoke is seaping though them and probably the eaves, but they must smoke a hell of a lot of cigarettes for it to be this bad

it seriously smells like i am living in an ashtray

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 27/01/2010 09:06

sure I read on another thread this can be an environmental health issue

Mumcentreplus · 27/01/2010 09:16

Its not their issue tbh..if they are smoking in their own home its their business..you'll have to find a way to stop the smoke getting through on your side..do you own your own home? if not you may be able to contact your council about it ..my sister is going through soemthing similar with a lady smoking and burning incense or some such in the flat below her..you have my sympathy

Original poster
VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 09:22

The house used to belong to the council, it now belongs to a housing trust, i dont own it, i will ring the housing trust

OP posts:
emsyj · 27/01/2010 09:24

I think if the smoke is affecting you then it might technically be classed as nuisance, although it is a very very long time since I did land law etc. Definitely contact the housing trust. It's not fair that you should suffer.

Mumcentreplus · 27/01/2010 09:26

Yes i think its worth a try definately..explain the problem..your sons health is being affected and I'm sure if something can be done they will help...if next door is also a housing trust property it will be easier because for a private home they may need a court order or the occupiers permission, which is one of the problems my sister is facing at the moment..sounds like shoddy buliding work to me..

Mumcentreplus · 27/01/2010 09:27

I dont think you can class it as a nuisance tbh..they are not breaking the law by smoking in their own home.

belgo · 27/01/2010 09:28

I was also just about to mention, could you contact environmental health. I wonder if they can monitor smells in your house the same way they can monitor noisy neighbours?

Mumcentreplus · 27/01/2010 09:30

Its not their fault if the buildings are badly built/ poorly insulated..thats like banning someone from making strong smelling foods...not the same as noise at all

belgo · 27/01/2010 09:31

I think it's probably worse then noise because passive smoking is proven to be bad for health.

expatinscotland · 27/01/2010 09:33

I wish smoking was all our neighbours' bothered us with.

Mumcentreplus · 27/01/2010 09:36

expat wonder what they do?

weegiemum · 27/01/2010 09:37

If it affecting yours/your ds's health, you can ask your GP to write to your housing trust asking for something to be done as it is a health issue. Certainly this can be done if your house is damp and affecting asthma so if your house is poorly insulated and smoke is affecting you then it might be worth a try.

Some doctors will charge a fee for this - the good ones don't!

TamartorousBeastie · 27/01/2010 09:40

You have issue with your neighbours because the HA hasn't insulated the building properly?

Yes they are evil people imagine the cheek of them smoking in their own home!!!

Original poster
VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 09:43

I didnt say they were evil i said their are smelly filthy bastards

OP posts:
princessparty · 27/01/2010 09:45

Really its not the neighbours fault much as I hate smoking ! it is the inadequacy of the build which is the problem.
There must be gaps in the wall for the smoke to come through.Would something as simple as another layer of plasterboard fix it?Plasterboard is really simple to fit yourself.Just measure it, score it and bend and it breaks along the line.Then 'glue' it to the wall with dry wall adhesive.'sellotape' along the joints with jointing tape If you then wanted to skim over it you probably wouldn't get a brilliant finish (unless your a dab hand at icing cakes but can easily sand it down smooth when it dries.

WorzselMummage · 27/01/2010 09:50

Passive smoking kills !

Have you been and spoken to the smelly filthy bastard VT ?

I should imagine it is a environmental health issue. It would be if any other poison was seeping in to your home wouldn't it.

emsyj · 27/01/2010 09:52

OK here is the definition of 'Nuisance' that I can find on an online resource we have at work. There is no requirement for the action to be unlawful, Mumcentreplus. Only for it to affect his neighbour's land.

"A private nuisance usually is caused by a person doing something on his own land, which he is lawfully entitled to do but which becomes a nuisance when the consequences of his act extend to the land of his neighbour by, for example, causing physical damage. A private nuisance is actionable in tort."