I don't want to be a sucky tenant either!

[myswtghst]

Didn't want to threadjack over here:http://customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=8535&page=2

As of late, it's really cold and snowy and icky outside. I understand this. As a former smoker who quit very recently, I know how much it sucks to have to get fully dressed and bundled to go stand outside for a few minutes to smoke. That being said, when I did smoke, I did so in my own apartment, with a window/slider open, and a fan on. I don't even expect that much out of my neighbors, so long as they smoke in their own apartments and I don't have to deal with it.

Lately I've noticed that someone has been smoking in the front entryway of our little building. Right near the stairs, by the mailboxes, and directly below my apartment, so the smell leaks right on in. Given that I quit, and have finally gotten the smell out, as much as I could, of my furniture and stuff, it's pissing me off. :pissed: Plus, it's just icky to walk inside after a long day and be confronted with an overpowering reek of stale smoke.

I don't really know what to do, as I don't know who it is that's doing it, and don't really feel like confronting anyone on my own. In the past, when I've made complaints about loud music late at night and such, it's either been kind of brushed off, or I've been told I should call the police, even when I've figured out which apartment the music is coming from and really was just hoping the office could make them aware that there was a complaint.

So, any ideas?

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Catch em in the act and ask nicely the first time. If it continues, get a lil firmer. 4th time I'd go to the apartment office and complain.

[myswtghst]

The only real issue is, that it seems to mostly happen when I'm not there. I just generally walk into the stale smoke smell when I get home from work at all hours, or notice it when I'm in my apartment, and by the time I get out there, they've gone. :(

[blas]

Don't ever worry about being a sucky tenant. Good tenants bring up issues when needed in a polite manner.

Sucky tenants destroy their apartments until kingdom come *cough, my neighbors, cough* and then expect to not be charged for the damages that ensue from throwing people at the wall and slamming doors and breaking shit.

I do feel bad for my landlords in a way. They are going to spend thousands of dollars fixing my neighbor's apartment, they probaby won't even be able to rent it for months due to repairs that will be needed, and they will never get paid for what my neighbors did. They'll take them to court, but poor assholes like my neighbors have nothing to garnish or liquidate except their drugs lol.

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Gross-stale smoke.

Hmm, in that case I would report it to the office since it happens during the day and is more likely to be caught by them. Is your office, um, do they do anything or are they one of those lazy ones?

[myswtghst]

You usually have to complain more than once, sometimes more than a few times to get anything done if it isn't immediately life-threatening. I've only gotten relatively quick responses on no heat in the middle of below-freezing temp winter.

I'll probably report it to the office, make a complaint and hope they follow up. They've sent out notes before asking that people not leave their cig butts in the street in front of our building, which hasn't really worked, so we'll see if this does anything.

On a side note--our complex isn't exactly high-class. We've had a number of car vandalizations, including my neighbors getting their bumper stomped off for getting someone towed for parking in their (paid for!) covered spot on multiple occasions, and they recently have started threatening to make it no pets allowed if people can't pick up after their dogs.

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Hmm. Well I guess you can only do but so much. Good luck with this and keep us posted!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Does the landlord have any rules about smoking in those areas? If there are specific rules that you can cite about where people can and can't smoke it might help your case. Though short of monitored security cameras it probably does come down to randomly catching them in the act...

[blas]

I see.....you live in one of those neighborhoods too huh......

isn't it just the pits???

Only a few people have pets around here....but nevertheless. Gotta love Code Orange hoods.