Hi all...I know that this has nothing to do with work, but I know that you gals check this board alot during the day and might want to weigh in.
Recently (this summer) new tenants have moved into unit below us. Ever since they have moved into their unit they have been smoking marijuana. At first they did it out on the balcony. But my husband and I were out there setting up our outdoor furniture and they must have overheard us discussing their smoking and they quickly went inside. It seems that they only smoke in their unit now, but do so with the windows open. Our windows and patio door have been open too; therefore the smell is coming into our unit. The last two nights the smell has come into our unit with the air conditioner on. We obviously do not want to make an awkward living situation in our building but we are not willing to live with this odor in our unit, especially since my husband's employer sends all employees for random drug tests several times a year.
I sent an email to our condo board looking for some advice. Normally I would leave a note for the neighbors first, but it turns out one of the neighbors was a former co-worker in a place I resigned from, so I don't feel that I could approach them. (It was not a pleasant place to work and we never spoke, as we were in different departments).
What would you do? We have thought about eventually calling the police (if they don't stop after contact from the condo board/landlord), but really what can/will they do?
Re: Unrelated topic- Neighbors smoking pot
I do not think there is anything you can do except invest in some candles and shut your windows, or move. When you live in an apt./condo complex you often have to deal with unpleasant noises and smells. I used to have a neighbor that cooked the most rancid smelling food everyday and the smell permeated my apartment. Even though it bothered me and was disgusting there is nothing that anybody else could've or should've done.
P.S. Your dh is not going to fail a drug test for smelling marijuana.
That's a tough one, but if I were in your situation I'd wait on the board. If the board doesn't get back with you in a timely manner (they probably meet once a month or so), then I'd call your local non-emergency number to inform the police. I'm sure it would be different if they lived about you, but that really sucks.
Best of luck!
I agree with devils-advocate.... Your DH is definitely not going to fail a drug test over the faint trace of second-hand marijuana smoke coming into your apartment. What if it was just regular cigarette smoke coming into your house (which I personally think smells WAY worse than pot)? The annoyance of living too close to the neighbors definitely comes with apartment living unfortunately. Unless you've noticed suspicious activity leading you to believe they were growing or selling, I think this is a live and let live situation.
ETA that I also agree with the other responder as well.... wait for the housing board to get back to you and see what they say. They may send some sort of official warning or notice to help deter the issue.
I agree with this. The police can maybe even give you ideas on how to handle it. But, I also agree that this is the price you pay when you live in a community like this (condo, apt, duplex). Unfortunately, you get the bad with the good.
FET - transferred two embryos (boy and girl) - Nov 2014 - BFP!
I think the idea of calling the police on these people is way over the top -- and I say this as someone who absolutely despises the smell of pot. Especially since you're not willing to just go and talk to the neighbor. Clearly they are willing to work with you since they took it inside when they overheard you talking about it. I don't really get what the neighbor being a former coworker has to do with being able to talk to them or not.
What I would do is talk to the neighbor in person and just say, "I'm sure you don't realize this, but we can smell when you're smoking pot in our unit because of the air conditioning and open windows. The smell really bothers me. Do you think you could try smoking in a room with the windows closed?"
I would say that you are all adults and you simply need to knock on their door and let them know the smell is leaking into your apartment and you'd appreciate it if they would keep it more low key.
However, you most likely will not sway them so it might be time to look for a new apartment. Which really sucks, I know it isn't your fault but...as my Mom says...you cannot change others, only yourself.
I wouldn't call the cops. Knock on the door and talk to them. It doesn't sound like you have a problem with them smoking it, you're more concerned that you can smell it (maybe I'm misinterpreting your works). I know that I wouldn't Give.A.Sh!t about them smoking as long as I couldn't smell it.
ETA: if that doesn't fix the issue, go to the owner of the condo (aka, new tenants). That information should be available via public records.
I'm absolutely shocked at the responses to this. Whether you agree or not, pot is illegal. I think that you should definitely let them know that you can smell it, that this illegal substance is permeating your home. If they don't stop after a polite talk, let them know that the next step is calling the police. While the police might not do anything, it might scare them into not doing it.
My downstairs neighbor used to smoke pot in the room directly above mine. It used to seriously leave a haze in my room-- so much so that I couldn't stay in it sometimes. The smoke left marks on my wall where my photos were hung and I had to repaint.
It actually isn't illegal everywhere (but I don't know where the OP lives). Regardless, you need to go downstairs and have a polite conversation with the neighbors asking them to keep their windows closed when they smoke because the smoke is getting into your house.
I miss you lite-brite!
If it's legal, they'll have proof. (i.e. a doctor's note, or something.)
1. Talk to them.
2. Call the cops if it happens again.
Samantha Skye - Aug 30, 2006 AND Maxwell Griffin - April 14, 2009