MyNewPlace Blog

The Battle for Smoke Free Apartments Heats Up

For the past year we have been tracking the development of the controversial issue of smoking in apartments. The point of contention hinges on whether the renter has a right to smoke within their apartment versus the rights of neighbors to clean air in their apartment.

Each time we come across a story regarding smoking in apartments, the actors in the conflict change. The last time we checked in, the argument was resolved between tenants, though in a court of law; a couple living in an apartment in Dublin, California requested and was granted a temporary restraining order against a smoking tenant.

Our prediction is that many of these disputes will be settled by the apartment owner, as was the case recently in Santa Cruz. The owner of the San Lorenzo Park Apartments recently informed its tenants that no smoking would be allowed within the building.

This presented some of the elderly residents with quite a dilemma: either find somewhere else to live or quit a lifelong habit. Though they may raise cane amongst their fellow residents, there will not be much that they can do, as smokers are neither protected by Fair Housing laws nor are likely to be considered to have a right to smoke under precedents set by rights to privacy.

With the percentage of smokers decreasing and even those who do smoke not wanting their apartments smelling like an ashtray, apartment owners are increasingly seeing incentives for instituting smoke free policies.

NAA To Help Apartments Go Green

Today we received an email from the folks at the National Apartment Association about their new Green Website; the NAA hopes to provide resources that will help apartment owners and managers, developers, remodelers and residents make their communities greener.

The new section seems not only to be a reaction to the popular uptake of green trends, but also in anticipation of impending government regulation of energy and pollution.

NAA to apartment owners, “start thinking about what changes you are going to make to your properties, because the legislature is very close to passing laws that cap emissions and this administration will not hesitate enforcing any regulation. Use our free resources to get a better idea of what that means for you."

The site right now is still in a pretty nascent stage, but it looks like once more information is published, that this site could really help apartment professional stay ahead of the curve when it comes to going green.

Last year, we tried to give everyone the heads up about last year's economic stimulus being a perfect way to overcome the deterrent of large upfront costs on environmental remodels that would save money in the long run. We are guessing that this year's stimulus, with its especial emphasis on green building and energy conservation will most likely produce similar opportunities.

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