Help with issue at home

[Natzy]

Hi there
I am writing to find out if anyone has been in the same situation as me and what they did to resolve it. I am living in an old converted victorian house, in a top floor flat. I live with my 3 year old son. The people that live in the lower flat smoke cannabis everyday, inviting groups of their friends in (especially at weekends), the result of this is that the bedroom, living room
infact sometimes the whole flat gets filled with smoke and me and my son are left sleeping and living in this. My son has a language impairment and
behavioral difficulties and I have been informed that the smoke may have an impact on this. Its very difficult time for me, I am a single parent, and this situation leaves me feeling helpless intimidated and
quite stressed. The result of this is that my friends or family do not visit
my home as they cannot stand the smell. We sleep with the windows wide open even in this cold weather. I have contacted the local council
who have written to them with no avail.
They received the letter and just continued, apparently there is a clause in
tenancy of council and leasehold tenants that says they can smoke what they want...? but I thought drugs where illegal. I have also contacted the local police who said they would look into this issue. Im not sure what else to do, could I ask if anyone else has had any issues like this and what did you do to resolve this? I am worried about my sons exposure to the fumes and smoke and I have expressed this repeatedly, its just that no one seems to know what to do and where to go for help? Can anyone advise or help?

I can offer you my sympathy. I also have a problem with smoking neighbours. I live in a Victorian terraced house with stripped floor boards, there is a problem with a gap under the houses where a concrete hearth had previously been. At least I think that is where the problem lies. Luckily for me, the worst room affected is the bathroom and usually only in the evening after DS is asleep. The smell of the smoke comes up from the floor boards.

The builders who worked on the house next door kindly suggested using silicone sealant in the gaps in the floor boards (black is best if stripped floors) as it doesn't fall out when the wood expands and contracts unlike filling with sawdust mix or wooden tappets. Shame they didn't seal next door then! It might be worth doing this even if you have carpets down, lift them and seal the floor boards before relaying.

Do you own your flat or rent it? If rented, I would ask the landlord to sort it out, if you own it, I'm afraid it's up to you.

Unless it is forbidden in the lease, your neighbours have the right to smoke in their own home, although I guess as cannabis is an illegal drug they don't have that right but would anyone do anything about it?

It's rather madness that despite all the fuss about smoking laws, it is still possible to live in a home polluted by someone else's second hand smoke and have nothing that can be done.

I have yet to resolve my issues as my hole under the house is behind the bath so not easy to access and as it is a party wall issue, I'm not sure if I am soley responsible or if it is a joint responsibility with the landlord who owns the house nextdoor. Unfortunately I no longer have his contact details. Both our houses were extensively renovated a few years back, nextdoor was done after mine, but not sure if they removed the last bit of adjoining concrete or my builders a couple of years previously. For me, sometimes it stops for a while and I forget about but then other times it comes back for several days at a time. I guess it depends on which room they smoke in.

keep badgering the police. it takes a while but they may come and do a drugs raid if you keep ringing them. keep on at the council too. see your gp and get it logged with them just in case there is any come back on you. the police raided the flat downstairs as lots of neighbours complained.