Help from the Brain Trust of PS.com please

[Richard]

Apartment complexes usually have contracted maintenance who do periodic inspections of the facilities for general maintenance, health, and safety reasons.

A non-smoking maintenance tech should be able to go through the apartments on an announced routine check of their general condition - with a 'head's up' regarding a need to keep an eye out for evidence of anyone in non-compliance with the no smoking clause - and if evidence of recent smoke/smoking is found during the inspection, report it to the management for necessary action.

Richard's $.02

[The Reaper]

You don't happen to have access to a Claymore mine and a smoke detector, do you?

Positive overpressure is a thought as well.

TR

[Red Flag 1]

If the apartments are rental units, the owners will protect their bottom line by keeping all units occupied for as long as possible. They'll throw letters at the problem to make it look good, and the problem will ebb and flow unabatted. I understand the sensitivity to cigarette smoke odor, I can smell it in city traffic if the person in the car ahead of me lights one up.

A thought I had was to put a small fan inside the bathroom vent duct blowing into the duct, and let it just run. This can push the odor from away from you and towards others that share the duct; good white noise generator as well. Then just think of other aromas you could share with other apartment dwellers/duct sharers.

After that, Claymore smoke detector works for me.

RF 1

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

You don't happen to have access to a Claymore mine and a smoke detector, do you?

TR

Do you need diagrams for the setup?

[echoes]

Gypsy,

I feel for you...as a smoker, no less!!! Seriously, I had a roomate last year who just did not understand that we were not allowed to smoke in the apt.

She just did not give a rats ass that the smoke from her bedroom, came in to mine as well, and I finally had to bust her for it by calling the proper channels while it was taking place.

It is unfair to break "the rules," IMHO. Hope it all works out well for you!

Holly

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

You don't happen to have access to a Claymore mine and a smoke detector, do you?

Positive overpressure is a thought as well.

TR

I probably can get one.

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Do you need diagrams for the setup?

Yes please.

The response have all been great, thanks much. All of the units are rentals, it's a large building with 32 apartments.... It's an old building, so my "vent" is the bathroom window, when it's not cold I don't smell the smoke as strongly. Doesn't negate the fact the person is breaking the lease.

I agree that any non-smoker can enter an apartment and tell if the renter is smoking inside. They just did an inspection for a leak (which I think is a coverup to enter the apartments...hopefully figured it out.)

Fact of the matter is while I detest the smell of it, I'm more afraid the jackass who's smoking will fall asleep and start a fire. Happened two years ago at the opposite end of my building.

So...I decided to write a letter and set the tone.

Next time I smell it, I do intend to recon. It's just down the stairs and around the corner of the building...the lights from the apt building next door make the area lit up like a landing zone so it's not an issue.

November 12, 2010

To the Management at xxx Apartments:

Thank you for your call of November 11 to discuss the problem with tenant(s) breaking the lease agreement and smoking inside the apartment(s). While I can understand that unless caught in the act it is challenging at best to address the subject with the particular tenant(s) in question, I do feel something more needs to be done. I have a heart condition, and I do not appreciate being forced to inhale second hand smoke fumes when I enter my bathroom because tenant(s) has/have decided it is okay to smoke within the confines of the apartment(s).

I think we can agree the offenders are narrowed down to tenants in apartments 1, 2 and 10. I say this because the smell of smoke is VERY strong in my bathroom, to the point I can sometimes smell it in my kitchen. I have seen the tenants of apartments 1 and 2 outside smoking many times, however I have never seen the tenant in apartment 10 so I cannot state he/she smokes.

In order to keep record of these illegal violations of the lease agreement at xxx Apartments, I intend to report every instance of the smell of smoke in my apartment and will follow up weekly with a formal letter documenting these offenses and my calls reporting such offenses.

11/3/2010 at 6:43 PM I call xxx on his cell to report the smell of smoke in my apartment, and actually requested for him to knock on doors as this would prove without a doubt who was smoking since the smell of smoke lingers in the air. He stated a letter would be sent instead. Unfortunate as that was one time the tenant(s) could have been caught “red handed” breaking their lease. (to the reader, xxx lives 6 doors down and is the onsite manager)

11/5/2010 3:29 PM the “office of the building” calls (no name was left). A message was left on my voice mail to state a letter has gone out to tenants suspected of smoking and a copy will be provided to me.

11/10/2010 5:00 PM I report that I again smelled smoke in my apartment at 5:00 AM this day.

11/11/2010 9:20 AM the “office of the building” calls to apologize and state unless “there are 2 eye witnesses” to confirm a tenant is smoking there is nothing that can be done, as you are unsure as to who the offending tenant(s) is/are. Understandable, but that is not the solution I am looking for considering the fact that the offending tenant(s) is/are breaking the lease. The offer to move my belongings into another apartment is rejected by myself as it will only inconvenience ME and is not a guarantee that yet another tenant won’t be smoking. Frankly, when I walk past apartment 15 if the window is open you can smell smoke fumes very strongly.

November 11 9:30 PM I call to report I again smelled smoke at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM on this evening.

Again, while challenging at best to figure out who is breaking their lease and smoking inside of their apartment, my thought on the matter is that since we put a man on the moon we can pretty much do anything. I will appreciate and invite further communication to solve this continuing and most irritating problem which will continue to affect my health and is therefore unacceptable especially considering it is in legal violation of the leasing agreement put forth by xxx Apartments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Get a smoke alarm that has a sensitivity adjustment knob. Place it out there using double stick mounting tape near the window and watch them freak out.......

I knew I liked you.

Originally Posted by mojaveman

Next time it happens call the fu*&ing fire department and tell them you smell smoke. That will start getting someone's attention.

Oh hell yes. I hate to waste the fire department's resources, but if this isn't resolved soon...

[kgoerz]

Originally Posted by mojaveman
Next time it happens call the fu*&ing fire department and tell them you smell smoke. That will start getting someone's attention.

No, please don't wast their time.

[mojaveman]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

No, please don't wast their time.

I forgot the pink font for sarcasm.

[Gypsy]

I personally didn't think you were offering a serious solution.