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SMOKE-FREE HOUSING

“Clearing The Air”
Smoke-Free Housing Tips for Landlords - Creating Healthy and Supportive Environments for All 

Why Go Smoke-Free?

Learn why most renters prefer smoke-free housing

How To Be Smoke-Free

Tips for implementing your plan to go smoke-free

Free Resources

Signs, equipment, and survey templates to help with compliance

WHY GO SMOKE-FREE?

Most renters prefer smoke-free housing.
​In surveys conducted across Windham County: 66-80% of tenants, smokers and non-smokers alike, from market and subsidized housing, would prefer to live in a smoke-free environment.
  • It creates a healthier living environment for the entire building. 
  • Smoke-free housing saves money for landlords: 
    • It reduces turnover costs, such as re-painting, replacing carpeting, etc. 
    • It reduces maintenance costs for heating and cooling systems.
    • Reduced insurance rate. 
  • It reduces fire hazards. 
  • It’s easier than you think. 
  • It makes your units more marketable and more attractive to potential renters. 
  • Smoke-Free Housing reduces health risks for pets (2nd/3rd hand smoke).

SUPPORTIVE SMOKE-FREE HOUSING

  • It is important to ensure equitable and effective implementation of smoke-free policies in order to support vulnerable community members - smokers and nonsmokers alike.
  • Nicotine is highly addictive and like any other substance use there is a chance of relapse.
  • Those who experience poverty and other barriers are more likely to smoke, AND have serious consequences to their health and well-being if they are evicted.
  • Landlords have a responsibility to ensure smoke-free environments for children, pregnant women, and others with chronic health conditions.

BEST PRACTICES

By integrating these 'best-practices', landlords ensure safe, smoke-free, and stable housing.  They may also be protected from legal liability. (Adapted from the National Housing Law Project, Guide to Equitable Smoke-Free Housing).
  1. Collaboration:  Landlords/property management staff should work closely with tenants (including smokers) and local social service agencies to come up with policies.  Regularly review and update policies with these stakeholders, at least once per year.
  2. Resident Support:  Ongoing education by landlords in these two areas is the key to the success of a smoke-free policy: 1) what are the smoke-free policies, and 2) how to connect to smoking cessation supports.
  3. Designated Smoking Areas:  These will encourage compliance and landlords/property managers should communicate this clearly.
  4. Graduated Enforcement:  Includes at least three verbal and written warnings prior to a termination notice. 
    -Assure written warnings are in the language spoken by the tenant and written at a fourth grade reading level.
    -Include information on how to comply, and a list of local services and supports.
    -Review policies, warnings, and supports verbally, especially with those with mental disabilities or communication barriers. Enlist support of social workers and care providers to communicate.
  5. Evictions vs. Non Renewal of Leases:  Evictions may be necessary in certain circumstances, however evictions should always be the very last resort. Consider Non-Renewal of Lease as an alternative to eviction. Having an eviction on your record can make it really difficult to find housing. In no case should a tenant be evicted because one of their guests was smoking.

HOW TO BE SMOKE-FREE
Tips for Implementation
There are various ways to support your tenants.  Your local coalition is here to help!  
Your local coalition can help you with:
  • Surveying your tenants, both smokers and non-smokers, to get their input. 
  • Offering cessation resources to help those interested in quitting cigarettes or e-cigarettes. 
  • Creating  a convenient smoking area outdoors for smokers. 
  • Support your tenants in order to help them meet their lease commitments.
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​Click here for more guidance and recommendations:
Smoke-Free Housing Toolkit - PDF File

SMOKE-FREE HOUSING POLICY EXAMPLES (PDF Files)

DEVELOPING A COMPLIANCE PLAN​
  • Continue to communicate about the policy. 
  • Create a convenient outdoor smoking area for smokers. 
  • Talk with residents who do not comply with the policy.
  • Enforce the policy fairly and with compassion. 
  • Remember that this is a cultural change and takes time. 
  • Offer on-site support groups
  • Celebrate the anniversary of your smoke-free policy
  • Include compliance checks during your regular housing inspections.
  • Remember that this policy is not against smokers. It’s against the smoke (and/or aerosol, marijuana).
  • Create a formal process for tracking resident complaints, verbal notifications, warning letters, private meetings, and so on. (Very Important Note: Violation of a smoke-free policy alone should NOT be used as grounds for eviction.)​

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

"Meeting People Where They Are At"

Those impacted by decisions being made in the community need to have voice and power in the making of those decisions to ensure equity and inclusiveness in the process.
By having the support of a broad cross-section of residents, your changes are more likely to gain acceptance, which can reduce the amount of time needed for compliance. 
Tips include:
  • Get meaningful input from both smokers and nonsmokers. 
  • Ensure the populations that are most affected, have experienced trauma, or have been historically marginalized hold decision-making power.
  • Make sure that everyone’s needs are considered before decisions are made.
Equality vs. Equity image from Interaction Institute for Social Change: https://interactioninstitute.org/illustrating-equality-vs-equity/

RESOURCES

Click here for more resources and templates:

Vermont Department of Health's Smoke-Free Housing Resource Page

Resources offered by your local coalitions​

Your local prevention coalition will provide you with direct support and free resources for both you and your tenants and will walk you through the entire process of going smoke-free. 

Air Quality Monitor

Use an air quality monitor to help with enforcement. This unit can be loaned out from GFC by any landlord. Very easy to use and effective!  

​Click on the video to learn how to use an air quality monitor. 

Anonymous Surveys for Tenants

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Your local coalition can assist you with assessing the concerns and level of support from your tenants through anonymous surveys. We will provide you with a summarized report of the combined surveys and will assist you on how to proceed. 

Free Signs ​

Your local coalition can you with free signs to keep or to borrow. Reach out to one of our Tobacco Coordinators to get yours.

Cessation Support

Your local coalition has many cessation resources for your tenants:
Contact your local coalition about area classes and other cessation resources. 
  • Quit Kits to hand out to tenants
  • Online Groups 
  • In-Person Support (including nicotine replacement therapy). 
If you are a resident of an apartment that is not smoke-free, ask your landlord about going smoke-free. Your local coalition has free resources for tenants and landlords that will walk you through the entire process of going smoke-free. 

Need Assistance?

Our Tobacco Coordinators can help you with any questions you have about creating smoke-free environments. 
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