Your opinions, experiences, etc with smoking tenants?

(I recently found that 75% of the people who inquire about our places specifically say NO to the question of smoking - even if qualified with "Outside Only" as if that would be okay. )

That’s good. I meet all occupants so I can smell them. Being a former smoker I can smell smoke 20 feet away. I also do not allow outside smokers because their body smells like smoke and they come inside and it transfers to the interior of the house.

We also had to include vaping. You know the whole sentence that has this and that, but not limited to....

I am moving toward all non-smoking units.

One tenant smokes outside and her place never smells of it. She is the only smoker that I have that actually smokes away from the building.

Places are easier to return to service when there are no smokers, but am I hindering my empty times because I do not allow smokers? Also then I become the smoke police.

I allow pets because so many people have them, and I make some extra from that.

Could I allow smokers but with a smoker's fee and additional monthly rents? Would that be worth it? I sprayed the walls, floors and ceilings at the latest place I bought with OdorXit. The smoke smell dissipated pretty quick. Still had to fight some areas because of body funk.

Could one simply spray the place down, stop the smell and re-rent to another smoker?

After a while one would have to go in and remove all the build-up tho, so I guess it might not be worth it, even with extra fees.

I ask on the application if they are smokers and just put in that some places are smoke free. Still have some that grandfathered in.

I've had "e-sigs, vape, etc" as well as any "legal or illegal smoking" in my lease.

The problem is, you are not there "24/7" so you can't stop them. You need to do the sniff test.

I've had some come right out and say "yes, I smoke" and I tell them it's a no smoking property (meaning they can't smoke on it at all) and they basically say they aren't interested any longer.

I had one guy (a few years ago) tell me he didn't smoke, I told him that if he did it's a lease violation and he would be evicted (which I tell them all that) and then when he showed up for the viewing he "kind of" smelled like smoke. When I asked him he said he was with a friend that smoked, it "wasn't him". Mind you, it wasn't strong so I figured ... fine. I've had that happen too when I'm in a property that is very smokey and then I smell like it. He puts in a hold fee (which he understood clearly) and then about 3 days before he was going to move in and sign the lease... he calls me and tells me he is a smoker and doesn't think he can do this (not smoking in the apartment). I told him I appreciated the fact that he is coming to me about it but he signed and paid a Hold fee.

I kept the fee since I couldn't find a tenant then since I held my part of the bargain up and it was 3 days before the month started. His lost... I immediately put it on the market again but it took another month to fill it. That's why I do a full month rent for my Hold Fee. He shouldn't have lied. That's on him. I was very up front.

If you rent older places (mostly 1950's) like I do it's kind of ridiculous to think that they haven't been smoked in over the years. I don't really care if they smoke but interestingly enough 95% of my smokers smoke outside or in the garage. I rarely get one that smells of cigarettes and spraying the walls down with Zep smoke odor eliminator a couple of times or running the ozone generator seems to take care of most of it without a worry.

Truth is, last few years very few of my tenants actually smoke cigarettes anymore because of the cost, they vape. While there may be nicotine on the walls it doesn't really leave the stink that cigarettes do. Also, my average tenant stays 3.5 years so I'm typically going to paint when they leave anyway so the new guys are going to get that new paint smell. I've had more of a problem with the "wet dog" smell than cigarettes.

JMO,I believe that most smokers lie. As you say, they all claim to only smoke outside. I say 99% BS.

I have a luxury property that all units are at least 3 bedrooms with 3 bathroom. Each unit has a separate entry and a side patio. In the rear of the property is a 20' x 20' garden area with a table and chairs. This area is 50 feet from any structure housing people and any smoke gets blown over garage roof tops and mixed with air so it won't offend anyone.

I have a Special lease. The rent is $1,000 higher than normal. If there are no reports of someone smoking in a unit or on their exterior patio where to smoke get blow into another tenants unit, the get the $1,000 rebate every 15th of the next month.

I smoked for years.

Before I got married the wife to be asked that nobody smoke in our house. I had quit for maybe a month. I agreed. Back to smoking maybe a month later. Did it for years.

Never smoked in the house. Every winter she thought I would quit. I never did. Never smoked in her vehicles. Never smoked around kids or pregnant women either.

That's the point, really: sure they smoke outside when the weather is lovely and warm (not TOO warm though - then they need AC.) But let the rains or winds or cold come and they are inside for sure.