what to do about neighbors in apartment?

I live in an apartment with two other units, and I feel like I'm going crazy. When I moved in I didn't know or think to ask if this apartment was a nonsmoking building, I thought it wouldn't matter since I'm living alone. It turns out that both of my neighbors smoke, and it comes through the vents. I've been keeping the windows open, but where I live it's really cold and I'm always wearing coats and layers of clothes because it's freezing inside. I'm just so sick of being cold, and I've also been puking every day because the smell of cigarette smoke makes me sick when I close the windows. It's so loud that I don't sleep at night until 4 or 5 in the morning.

I feel like I'm living in hell and I don't know what to do. It's really hard to focus on school, and I even had to drop one of my classes because I cant focus. I'm tired of everything, and I wish my neighbors would just get lung cancer and die already.

I really want to move out, but the lease I signed lasts for an entire year..

sorry this post doesn't really have a point, I just felt like saying something

I understand Cool, and sometimes it feels good to vent. Maybe if you are on good terms with your neighbors they may think about it if you ask them to smoke outside. I know they dont have to but I am a smoker and I am very considerate of non smokers!

yes, I agree. you should politely say to them what you posted(leave out the die part lol) and I'm sure they will help figure out a solution to the problem.

Are they actually allowed to be smoking and indoors? I thought most places had some rules about this now. I'm in Canada but most places here don't allow that. I would just check to make sure. Maybe this is totally different in the states.

I am a smoker, but outdoors only. I don't want it in my house or to be indoors where people are smoking either. Even I can't handle that.

The other problem here aside from the second hand smoke is fire hazard, especially in an apartment building.

I would talk them about it but if that fails do bring it up to management or whomever owns this building.

Can understand your frustration with this.

How awful! I too feel sick when around smoke. The problem, I think, is that they pay rent and, as long as there is nothing explicitly stated in the rental agreement, they are probably allowed to smoke in their apartment. If it's really cold, I think they would not want to smoke outside.

First I would approach the neighbors, politely explain that the smoke makes you feel sick and wonder if there is any solution they have. If they are not reasonable, then there is nothing to be done. Second, I wonder if you could get a note from your doctor stating the impact this has had on your health. Perhaps you could use this (consult with a lawyer) to get out of your contract? Third, do you know what would happen if you broke your contract? One place I was in would ask for a months rent for leaving early. It seems like a waste of money, but if you can't function properly, it's money well spent.

I hope something works for you.

I had this problem shortly after getting our apartment. The people below us moved out and smokers moved in. And I know smoking is allowed in our apartment building (just not common areas). Well, I called the landlord anyways and he said they're only allowed to smoke inside if it's not bothering anyone else. When I complained to him, he said he would take care of it. It did get a lot better, but I'm pretty sure they got evicted a few months later anyways.

So, honestly? I would talk to your landlord first. Then if there's nothing he can do, you can go talk to your neighbors. Lastly, I'd probably start looking for a new apartment. If you're worried about wasting money -- you already wasted money having to drop a class because of this. Don't waste any more by staying in a place that makes you miserable and damages your health and could lead to even more money down the drain in doctor bills, school bills, unnecessary heating bills....

Maybe an ashtray like this would help.

Tis the season, Some people give plates of cookies, to their neighbors. This, could be the coolest gift idea, of the season

Sorry, to the OP, that you're having such a hard time, living there

I went through the same ordeal and found a few ways to cope with it.

The very small apartment building I live in is supposed to be smoke free. All the tenants obeyed the rule, until two very inconsiderate guys moved in a few years after I did. They obeyed the rule for the first few months, then they decided to chain smoke in their unit. After they started doing that living here became unpleasant.

I had to prevent the stench from seeping into my apartment, because it was making me ill. Here is what I did:

Sometimes the stench seeps into the hallway. To prevent it from entering my unit, I put a door sealer on the door and weather stripping around the frame.

The three apartments are heated by forced air. A furnace is superb for spreading the stench into all three, because there are some intake vents in the problem unit. I could not stand smoke blowing into my apartment, so I sealed all the vents with foil tape. For heat, I use an oil heater in the colder months.

Now, my place is liveable.

If you cannot do these things, I would move out as soon as possible. Can you sublet?

Try to talk to you neighbors. Tell them that you can’t stand the smell of the cigarettes and that you feel so bad and even can’t concentrate on you school. If they are adult or just good people they’ll understand you and maybe when they want to smoke next time will do it outside the house. You can also create a voluntary agreement with your smoking neighbor to limit where he or she smokes. Or even you can explain everything to your landlord and encourage him to adopt a smokefree policy. Another option is to bring a lawsuit against the landlord and/or the tenant.