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For Housing Developers
Going smoke free is good for business. It helps reduce maintenance costs, caters to the majority of tenants and may help you negotiate lower insurance rates. Check out these Tools to go smoke free, the common Myths about going smoke free, and most importantly of all - how going smoke free will Save You Money!
Tools
Every landlord knows that a good set of tools is important to keep their building in good working order. This section contains a few tools to make your transition to a smoke-free environment easier. To get you started, here is an easy five-step process to go smoke-free:
1. Make a plan. Will you go totally smoke-free, or will certain wings of the building be smoke-free? Start by designating all public areas smoke-free. Then, review existing tenants' smoking status and begin creating smoke-free blocks of units and possibly all-smoking blocks of units.
2. Hold a Meeting. Gather with tenants to discuss the change. You can use this informative PowerPoint presentation from Mismokefreemichigan to give the tenants all the necessary details. There may be resistance, but remember, all existing tenants have rights under their leases too.
3. Inform Tenants. Review the legal information concerning your rights and your tenants' rights by using this web site and printing out key pages, such as the Landlords Rights and Tenants' Rights pages.
4. Amend New Leases. Change the language of your lease to legally include your new smoke-free policy. When new tenants sign-on, your policy will be crystal clear.
5. Promote Your Status. Begin advertising your smoke-free status to gain new tenants who appreciate a clean air environment. It's easy with our downloadable signage.
Myths Revealed
There is a lot of information out there about smoking and smokers rights. So much information, sometimes it is difficult to separate the myth from the truth. Here is the truth:
Myth 1: If I implement a smoke-free policy, I will lose money
Because nine out of ten Puget Sound renters prefer to live in smoke-free housing, you can be sure that you will have tenants for your smoke-free apartments. A smoke-free policy will save you money. The cleaning costs of units will go down, along with the turnaround time to prepare a unit for a new tenant. Smoke-free buildings can have higher resale values. Additionally, you can save money on insurance by talking to your agent about how your new policy has reduced fire risk.
Myth 2: It is against the law to ban smoking at my property.
There are no federal or Washington laws that protect someone’s right to smoke. Banning smoking is legally similar to banning pets. It is your decision to go smoke-free, and you can work with your tenants to develop a policy that is satisfactory to everyone. A number of public opinion surveys have found that a significant majority of tenants support smoke-free apartment policies.
Myth 3: Enforcing a smoking ban would be too difficult.
Most tenants want a smoke-free policy. Your non-smoking policy will be self-enforcing because of tenant support. Tips to making sure your policy works include: asking for tenant input while writing a policy, and making sure the policy is up front and direct in rental agreements and advertising.
Save Money and Save Your Business
Going smoke-free saves you money - and helps save your building. Some interesting facts:
Maintenance Savings. One paint contractor estimated that to paint a one-bedroom apartment of a smoker could cost $800-900, almost double that of painting a nonsmoker's apartment. If your apartment units are furnished, creating a smoke-free environment will also reduce the wear and tear on the furniture.
Risk of Fire. Of the property completely destroyed in 2002, an estimated $6.055 billion occurred in residential structures, an estimated $9.26 million of which occurred in apartments. (NFPA Fire Analysis and Research, Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2002.) Nationally, smoking was the cause of 9% of apartment fires. (NFIRS, 2002)
Improved Resale Opportunities. Recent research suggests that smoke-free apartment buildings may have increased re-sale value, should you ever decide to sell your building. Agents who have assisted people selling or shopping for everything from starter-home Capes to Victorian mansions, agree: as the number of public places in which a person can smoke has shrunk, so has the number of home buyers who are even willing to consider a house with smoking in its past. (New York Times, "Real Estate & Secondhand Smoke: On Tobacco Road, It's a Tougher Sell," February 8, 2004.)
Along with significant risks of property damage in a building without a smoke-free policy, you are also vulnerable to lawsuits by nonsmoking tenants suffering from the effects of secondhand smoke.
If you are ready to go smoke free, please contact us for help.
Success Stories
Since going smoke free the Whistle Stop Ale House has attracted quality staff and loyal customers. Their bottom line increased by 40 percent in the first six months after they made the switch.
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Membership
Join the many others who have successfully made the smoke free switch and become a member of the Seattle Smoke Free Coalition.
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