If you are suffering from unwanted second-hand smoke seeping into your home from neighbouring units, you are not alone. Our survey found that one-third of British Columbians living in multi-unit dwellings has experienced second-hand smoke infiltrating their homes. Further, the survey found that those who suffer from second-hand smoke rarely complain to the landlord. Remember – landlords have a responsibility to address complaints of second-hand smoke if there is evidence that the smoke is “unreasonably” disturbing other tenants.

In this section we offer some suggestions for addressing the problem of second-hand smoke in your home.

Document the problem
It should be mentioned that the bar is very high to prove that second-hand smoke infiltrating your home is an “unreasonable” disturbance that has resulted in a loss of your right to quiet enjoyment. The mere presence of smoke is not sufficient; infiltration must be frequent, ongoing and significantly interfering with the use and enjoyment of your home. Documenting and collecting evidence to prove your claim is vital. Read more.

Minimize the problem
The best solution to protecting yourself and your family from exposure to second-hand smoke is to live in a 100% smoke-free building. However, given the lack of available smoke-free rental accommodations in BC, this is not always possible. Given this reality, this section will offer some steps you can take on your own to minimize or eliminate the smoke from entering your home. Read more.

Negotiate solutions
If your efforts to abolish the smoke from your home are unsuccessful, we recommend that you work with your landlord to negotiate a solution. This section will offer some tips for working with your landlord to resolve the problem of excessive smoke infiltrating your home. Read more.