13 wks and heavy smoker just moved in downstairs!!

[ZucchiniPie]

We live in the upper flat of a Victorian conversion (always notoriously leaky buildings) and a new tenant has just moved into the flat downstairs who seems to be such a heavy smoker that our flat - two floors of it - REEK of smoke after just 24 hours. Well actually we came home last night after just a few hours of her being here and it was already like that.

I'm 13 weeks pregnant and have a 21 month old and am just freaking out about staying here a minute longer - which is obviously not a very practical emotion, but even though we've been downstairs and politely explained the situation and she's said she'll try and smoke outdoors, I can't see her actually sticking to that for very long. I may be wrong, but what are the chances of a chain smoker being so considerate to someone they don't really know that they'll go outside every 15 minutes when it's not exactly the Mediterranean out there at the moment! The problem is, she's got every right to smoke in her own flat. The question is (which we're going to try and find out) is whether Islington Council who own her flat have the responsibility to insulate their rental properties so that second-hand smoke doesn't seep into other people's homes. Trying to get them to do something about that would no doubt be a total quagmire and meanwhile I can't just put my baby's foetal development on hold.

Fortunately we've got to move out of this flat in 3 months anyway as the landlords want it back but all I can think of is my little bubba in there 'breathing' in all those chemicals. I'm not a rabid anti-smoker and during my previous pregnancy didn't race out of the room on the very rare occasion I did come into contact with a smoker because I realise the risks are low with the odd bit of exposure - but this could be more or less constant until we find a new flat!

I know there's nothing much anyone else can do here, but just really needed to vent!

oh how annoying for you!! I would get in touch with Islington to see what they can do, or at least let your landlord know of the problem as his future tenants might complain!...and if they can't help i'd get an air purifier in your bedroom, open windows as much as you can when you go out to air the place and take up walking/stomping in heels to get her to at least go outside from time to time to escape her nightmare neighbour upstairs

great that you're moving soon though. Dont forget this is also very secondary smoke and the chances of it damaging bubs are small. Do you swim? that is great for your lungs and you might find it helps clear them out a bit. Make sure on weekends you get to your local park for long walks in fresh air too...basically try to clear out your system a bit!

Thanks coraltoes - we aired the flat for a good couple of hours with windows wide open and it's definitely much improved, so maybe our neighbour's being as good as her word and going outside for now. You're right about the risk being pretty low too - I was definitely in full on panic mode earlier!

Oh, it must be completely gross BUT the risk to your kids is surely tiny. I mean, London air is filthy and we expose our kids to risk on a daily basis - for example, travelling by car would be much more dangerous than living above a smoker for a few months.

I totally sympathise because it must feel disgusting, but try not to freak out for the kids' sake and just focus on your own discomfort.

The last sentence sounded a bit strange. I meant to say

"...try not to freak out about the health risks, but prioritise your family's comfort."

Can you put draught excluders on the doors, as that may be one source of it seeping in? I had a similar problem in the past and it helped a bit.

Yes, we've now put insulation tape right round the front door and a draught excluder at the bottom, and are plugging holes round radiator pipes, etc!

I'm sure we can manage to keep the problem adequately at bay with windows open, etc. until we have to move out anyway, but it's just a bit galling when you're doing everything right while pregnant like no mouldy cheese, no rare meat, no booze, etc. etc. to then find yourself in a situation where you're breaking one of the most important other prohibitions! And it is just really unpleasant too...