How would you deal with a smokey issue

Ask the neighbor to smoke in garage with door open.

Head to home improvement store, in the door hardware section you will find foam outlet cut-outs (shaped like a light switch, or outlet panel), that cost about $3, place behind your panel faceplates. They are used to prevent drafts from around the outlet/panels but also work well in keeping out smoke.

Ask HOA to address, since they are rentors, directly to the owner of unit - if smoke is finding its way into your unit, then it is probably finding its way into their living space as well.

Krystal, many condos have initiated no smoking rule I recall reading about some of the owners in these condos winning court cases. Second hand smoke has been established to be hazardous to some, if not all, people's health.

Hi Krystal,

I'd speak with the tenants first to see if something as simple as them putting a fan in the garage to blow the smoke out might be the answer. Most smokers are acutley aware nowadays how much people complain about cigarette smoke, they may even have a prohibition against smoking indoors in their lease.

If they are nice, reasonable people, they'll understand that you don't want smoke inside your home, so they should be willing to try something to help you out.

If they refuse to do anything, then I'd contact the unit owner about it.

Why police smoking? Because second hand smoke has been proven to cause health problems. Sometimes condo associations have been sued and lost over smoking issues. So, just like other restrictions, this needs to be addressed.

Dottie, In a condo, the garage would not be any kind of common are. I bet you will find it is listed under unit description of that unit. All units should be described in the Master Deed as exhibits.

Smoke from their garage should not be ending up in your living room. There is something wrong here. Suppose it was fumes from their car running or from gasoline stored in the garage. Sealing any openings, electrical outlets, etc. would be a good step. It really should be sealed on their side (the garage).

If they are smoking with the garage door open, is it possible that the smoke is being picked up by your HVAC unit and distributed throughout your home?

You might want to have a qualified contractor look at how the smoke is getting into your home.

Back to the nighbors, I don't think you'll get very far trying to tell them that they cannot smoke in their own home unless there's a local law that covers this. You can ask and you can tell them how much it bothers you.

You're welcome.

Most jurisdictions have some pretty stringent building and fire codes relating to townhomes, garages, fire stops, etc. As I said, it might be a good idea to have a qualified contractor check for construction defects.