Non-smoking apartment complexes popping up on clarkhoward.com

Should apartment complexes be allowed to completely ban smoking -- from the entire property, not just the apartments? That's a hot trend in California, Texas and elsewhere, according to The Dallas Morning News. There are now 300 apartment complexes scattered around the country that have this policy.

Tenants love it for the obvious safety reasons. Landlords like it because they don't have to lay out money to clean a place after a smoking tenant leaves. Clark sees the trend toward non-smoking apartment complexes as a business decision. After all, landlords may be able to command slightly higher rents.

Vote in Clark's poll and let him know what you think!

It's interesting how the perception of smoking has changed over time. About 30 years, a Texan entrepreneur started the first no-smoking hotel. Today, the hotels Clark stays in are routinely no smoking.

Ditto for the airline industry. Years ago, the non-smoking sections on flights were just a few rows of seats. Then they started getting progressively larger over the years. Today, we're no smoking on all flights in the United States.

What others are saying

Smoking Fees From Complexes
1. Never tell complex you smoke.
2. Hide all evidence of tobacco use.
3. Throw out cartons, empty cigarette packs, matches etc. at work, not at the complex you live in.
4. Never let a fellow tenant "bum a smoke" from you....
5. The real reason this is even an issue with complexes is so they can charge a smoker: fines, cleaning fees, extra for damages, more rents etc.
6. Treat your smoking as if your were doing something else illegal....
By Turn the Tables @ 05/19/09 01:37:01 PMreport abuse
Yes! No Smoking Apartments!!!
Maybe not the entire complex, but have certain buildings that only have smoking allowed. We live next door to three smoking apartments! They aren't allowed to smoke inside, so the tenants do what...they light up outside, blowing foul smelling smoke into our unit every time we have our door or windows open. Plus the cigerette butts are horrible! So, much for non-smoking units in our complex.....Complaining doesn't help, the manager smokes too!
By Non Smoking Tenants @ 05/19/09 01:32:04 PMreport abuse
Non-Smoking Apartments
Some of us have health issues that make it dangerous to live around smokers. I, personally, don't have enough money to buy a house. Why should I have to breathe in someone's poison? In my area there are two non-smoking apartments and the rest allow smoking. I don't care if you want to poisen yourself, but when it effects my health I want it banned.
By Bad Lungs @ 02/18/09 07:19:32 PMreport abuse
I deduct $80 from the dep is a tenant smokes
Up front I tell 'encourage' tenants to smoke outside and use a container for their butts because I deduct $80 right off the top from their deposit when they move to deodorize the apt. They usually abide and keep it smoke free.
By Rose Mary @ 11/01/08 03:32:10 PMreport abuse
"Slippery Slope"
Dave,

Your "slippery slope" arguments are goofy logic. You're treating everything as black and white. "If some part of x happens, then all of x happens."

Please see here before using more "logic" to make your point:

http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/07/28/carl-sagans-baloney-detector/

Sean
By Sean @ 08/28/08 03:04:02 PMreport abuse
don't matter
I could see as a property owner not wanting smokers because of the mess and liabilities but outlawing it is impossible, you could ask in the application if they smoke or put a clause in to terminate the lease if they smoke on the property , does that apply to thier guests too? what about chewing tobbacco? cameras inside the units to make sure?...nicotine is not illegal and only a discriminating landlord would deny smokers a place. nicotine police and snitch fees for residents...thats how it starts, then outlaw alcahol...because drunk renters put holes in walls and cause more damage than smokers...then fatty foods because thin, healthy tennants put less strain on buildings...BAH....screen your tenants, yes, but require it? , lawsuit waiting to happen.... anyone got the aclu on the speed dial?
By Dave @ 08/26/08 05:17:32 PMreport abuse
Smoke Free Apts.
I am an apartment manager. A fair way to handle this is have designated "smoke free" buildings.
The lease could specifiy that those that smoke, are likely to receive less
back (if anything)on their security deposit, when leaving the complex. It is a lot more work to make ready, a smoked in unit than those that have not been smoked in.
By tom @ 08/26/08 03:11:41 PMreport abuse
Smoking
I am all for non-smoking apartment complexes. I would definitely pay more to be free of disgusting smells coming into my smoke-free apartment from other units. Also, I'm tired of trying to walk through hallways and stair wells where smokers congregate, toss butts on the ground and make the air unbreathable for the rest of us.
By Courtney @ 08/26/08 02:49:41 PMreport abuse
property rights
Nicotine police, you'd have a great point if this was government legislation, but it appears to be private companies contracting for the use of their own property. If that's the case, so be it. They have the right to control their property (within certain statutory limits). Surely you don't think smokers should be a protected class under the fair housing laws?
By federalist @ 08/26/08 12:35:38 PMreport abuse
Smoking
The amount of time I spend picking up everybody's butts is incredible. Why does everyone think that butts are not littering?
By Lou @ 08/26/08 12:14:01 PMreport abuse
Nicotine police
It goes against the constitution (life liberty, and the persuit of happiness) telling people what they can and can't do just because the social consciousness has turned against smoking is disgusting. for all you people who whine about second hand smoke and think that banning smoking everywhere including outdoors is a good idea, suck the tailpipe of any school bus driving by. Look up and see that factory smokestack pumping more smoke than a million smokers could....personal freedoms should not be limited because the moral majority looks down upon the activity...it leads to a facist state that will ban other things (for the greater good) next will be fast fatty foods, after all we have a obesity problem in this country...we tried alchahol once but it's evil effects weren't eliminated, once the nicotine natzis have nothing to do it could be added to the list...personally my pet peave is crying babies, lets ban them EVERYWHERE.. I'd love to see a policeman give tickets at my local resturaunt and movie theater to feeble parents because they can't control their spawn...I also think they should soundproof some overhead compartments in airplanes for the whiney brats (give it some extra padding too) Hey it's for the better good of the public and kids are too young to afford lawyers so screw em. I say all the smokers should get lawyers and sue for discrimination and take back their civil liberties. Including the right to legally smoke a cigarette in thier home or thier yard. They could use the fines gathered from people who whine about smokers to pay them...after all nobody whats to hear whiney people in public.
By Dave @ 08/26/08 11:29:57 AMreport abuse
Smoking Ban
It might help keep the rif-raff out
By BJ @ 08/26/08 05:32:16 AMreport abuse
Smoking
It might seem silly but if the smokers by a house instead of renting an apartment it might be a short term soloution to the housing market that has been hit so hard lately. Just a thought ya'll
By Grandpa Gene @ 08/25/08 11:58:38 PMreport abuse
safety issue
Inconsiderate smoker can really cause some fire danger. Last Appartment I lived at smokers would throw thier
cigarettes into the dry weeds.
By robert @ 08/25/08 10:27:41 PMreport abuse
Non-smoking apartment complexes popping up
As well intentioned as this may be, enforcing it will be difficult. How many of us rent "non-smoking" cars and hotel rooms, only to discover they've been smoked in?
By Tim @ 08/25/08 07:39:52 PMreport abuse
Free market
Let the market place decide. If is needed and wanted, they should have no problem leasing the apartments. This is a stictly business decision between contracting parties and no place for govenment to interfer.
By Tom @ 08/25/08 07:32:21 PMreport abuse
Smoked Out
I think this is great. I live in an apartment now that has a deck. I'm on the 3rd floor and have had trouble with people below smoking on their deck. It goes straight up and smokes me out.

This is not an issue of whether smoker's have the right to smoke. It's an issue of whether non-smokers have a right to clean air.
By Sean @ 08/25/08 05:34:31 PMreport abuse
non smoking complexes
why are you advocating a government policy that bans smoking? Let them police smoking and slowly but surely all of our rights will be policed. Give up one right and pretty soon we will have NO rights.
By rita @ 08/25/08 05:17:23 PMreport abuse
SMOKING
I think if it is your property then you have the right to ask them "the people who smoke" not to smoke. If the "Smokers" don't like it they have the right to stay somewhere else. Why should everyone be forced to be around smoking if they do not smoke. People reserve the right to smoke as do I not to be around it. If that means nowhere on my property, I reserve the right. It is a little communist to take my right away as a property owner, to require a no smoking policy. It just so happens that is a " blanket policy". Everyone reserves their right to be around or "not" to be around smoking. Yes, that means nowhere on the property. The last time I checked this was AMERICA. A land where we all have rights. Thanks to all of our Men and Women in uniform. We also need to give thanks the Lord above but that is another topic. I don't think you want to read for thirty minutes or longer on religion. So I am going to keep my opinions to myself. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion on the matter.
By JUSTIN LAVENDER @ 08/25/08 05:02:00 PMreport abuse

Smoking Fees From Complexes

1. Never tell complex you smoke.
2. Hide all evidence of tobacco use.
3. Throw out cartons, empty cigarette packs, matches etc. at work, not at the complex you live in.
4. Never let a fellow tenant "bum a smoke" from you....
5. The real reason this is even an issue with complexes is so they can charge a smoker: fines, cleaning fees, extra for damages, more rents etc.
6. Treat your smoking as if your were doing something else illegal....

By Turn the Tables @ 05/19/09 01:37:01 PMreport abuse

Yes! No Smoking Apartments!!!

Maybe not the entire complex, but have certain buildings that only have smoking allowed. We live next door to three smoking apartments! They aren't allowed to smoke inside, so the tenants do what...they light up outside, blowing foul smelling smoke into our unit every time we have our door or windows open. Plus the cigerette butts are horrible! So, much for non-smoking units in our complex.....Complaining doesn't help, the manager smokes too!

By Non Smoking Tenants @ 05/19/09 01:32:04 PMreport abuse

Non-Smoking Apartments

Some of us have health issues that make it dangerous to live around smokers. I, personally, don't have enough money to buy a house. Why should I have to breathe in someone's poison? In my area there are two non-smoking apartments and the rest allow smoking. I don't care if you want to poisen yourself, but when it effects my health I want it banned.

By Bad Lungs @ 02/18/09 07:19:32 PMreport abuse

I deduct $80 from the dep is a tenant smokes

Up front I tell 'encourage' tenants to smoke outside and use a container for their butts because I deduct $80 right off the top from their deposit when they move to deodorize the apt. They usually abide and keep it smoke free.

By Rose Mary @ 11/01/08 03:32:10 PMreport abuse

"Slippery Slope"

Dave,

Your "slippery slope" arguments are goofy logic. You're treating everything as black and white. "If some part of x happens, then all of x happens."

Please see here before using more "logic" to make your point:

http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/07/28/carl-sagans-baloney-detector/

Sean

By Sean @ 08/28/08 03:04:02 PMreport abuse

don't matter

I could see as a property owner not wanting smokers because of the mess and liabilities but outlawing it is impossible, you could ask in the application if they smoke or put a clause in to terminate the lease if they smoke on the property , does that apply to thier guests too? what about chewing tobbacco? cameras inside the units to make sure?...nicotine is not illegal and only a discriminating landlord would deny smokers a place. nicotine police and snitch fees for residents...thats how it starts, then outlaw alcahol...because drunk renters put holes in walls and cause more damage than smokers...then fatty foods because thin, healthy tennants put less strain on buildings...BAH....screen your tenants, yes, but require it? , lawsuit waiting to happen.... anyone got the aclu on the speed dial?

By Dave @ 08/26/08 05:17:32 PMreport abuse

Smoke Free Apts.

I am an apartment manager. A fair way to handle this is have designated "smoke free" buildings.
The lease could specifiy that those that smoke, are likely to receive less
back (if anything)on their security deposit, when leaving the complex. It is a lot more work to make ready, a smoked in unit than those that have not been smoked in.

By tom @ 08/26/08 03:11:41 PMreport abuse

Smoking

I am all for non-smoking apartment complexes. I would definitely pay more to be free of disgusting smells coming into my smoke-free apartment from other units. Also, I'm tired of trying to walk through hallways and stair wells where smokers congregate, toss butts on the ground and make the air unbreathable for the rest of us.

By Courtney @ 08/26/08 02:49:41 PMreport abuse

property rights

Nicotine police, you'd have a great point if this was government legislation, but it appears to be private companies contracting for the use of their own property. If that's the case, so be it. They have the right to control their property (within certain statutory limits). Surely you don't think smokers should be a protected class under the fair housing laws?

By federalist @ 08/26/08 12:35:38 PMreport abuse

The amount of time I spend picking up everybody's butts is incredible. Why does everyone think that butts are not littering?

By Lou @ 08/26/08 12:14:01 PMreport abuse

Nicotine police

It goes against the constitution (life liberty, and the persuit of happiness) telling people what they can and can't do just because the social consciousness has turned against smoking is disgusting. for all you people who whine about second hand smoke and think that banning smoking everywhere including outdoors is a good idea, suck the tailpipe of any school bus driving by. Look up and see that factory smokestack pumping more smoke than a million smokers could....personal freedoms should not be limited because the moral majority looks down upon the activity...it leads to a facist state that will ban other things (for the greater good) next will be fast fatty foods, after all we have a obesity problem in this country...we tried alchahol once but it's evil effects weren't eliminated, once the nicotine natzis have nothing to do it could be added to the list...personally my pet peave is crying babies, lets ban them EVERYWHERE.. I'd love to see a policeman give tickets at my local resturaunt and movie theater to feeble parents because they can't control their spawn...I also think they should soundproof some overhead compartments in airplanes for the whiney brats (give it some extra padding too) Hey it's for the better good of the public and kids are too young to afford lawyers so screw em. I say all the smokers should get lawyers and sue for discrimination and take back their civil liberties. Including the right to legally smoke a cigarette in thier home or thier yard. They could use the fines gathered from people who whine about smokers to pay them...after all nobody whats to hear whiney people in public.

By Dave @ 08/26/08 11:29:57 AMreport abuse

Smoking Ban

It might help keep the rif-raff out

By BJ @ 08/26/08 05:32:16 AMreport abuse

It might seem silly but if the smokers by a house instead of renting an apartment it might be a short term soloution to the housing market that has been hit so hard lately. Just a thought ya'll

By Grandpa Gene @ 08/25/08 11:58:38 PMreport abuse

safety issue

Inconsiderate smoker can really cause some fire danger. Last Appartment I lived at smokers would throw thier
cigarettes into the dry weeds.

By robert @ 08/25/08 10:27:41 PMreport abuse

Non-smoking apartment complexes popping up

As well intentioned as this may be, enforcing it will be difficult. How many of us rent "non-smoking" cars and hotel rooms, only to discover they've been smoked in?

By Tim @ 08/25/08 07:39:52 PMreport abuse

Free market

Let the market place decide. If is needed and wanted, they should have no problem leasing the apartments. This is a stictly business decision between contracting parties and no place for govenment to interfer.

By Tom @ 08/25/08 07:32:21 PMreport abuse

Smoked Out

I think this is great. I live in an apartment now that has a deck. I'm on the 3rd floor and have had trouble with people below smoking on their deck. It goes straight up and smokes me out.

This is not an issue of whether smoker's have the right to smoke. It's an issue of whether non-smokers have a right to clean air.

By Sean @ 08/25/08 05:34:31 PMreport abuse

non smoking complexes

why are you advocating a government policy that bans smoking? Let them police smoking and slowly but surely all of our rights will be policed. Give up one right and pretty soon we will have NO rights.

By rita @ 08/25/08 05:17:23 PMreport abuse

SMOKING

I think if it is your property then you have the right to ask them "the people who smoke" not to smoke. If the "Smokers" don't like it they have the right to stay somewhere else. Why should everyone be forced to be around smoking if they do not smoke. People reserve the right to smoke as do I not to be around it. If that means nowhere on my property, I reserve the right. It is a little communist to take my right away as a property owner, to require a no smoking policy. It just so happens that is a " blanket policy". Everyone reserves their right to be around or "not" to be around smoking. Yes, that means nowhere on the property. The last time I checked this was AMERICA. A land where we all have rights. Thanks to all of our Men and Women in uniform. We also need to give thanks the Lord above but that is another topic. I don't think you want to read for thirty minutes or longer on religion. So I am going to keep my opinions to myself. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion on the matter.

By JUSTIN LAVENDER @ 08/25/08 05:02:00 PMreport abuse

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Aug 25, 2008 -- Non-smoking apartment complexes popping up

What others are saying