Real Estate Community Forum

I have an apartment that is for rent. So far I have someone who is interested in the apartment, but they smoke a lot. My friend from work told me that I should not rent my apartment to a smoker. One of the main reasons is because I would have to notify my home owners insurance agent about the tenant who smokes, which will cause my insurance premiums to rise substantially. Is this true? Should I really be concerned if my tenant smokes or not? If so, then what about those who say they don't smoke, but later find out they do. What should I do in that situation?

We always make sure a non-smoking clause is included on all leases. If your tenant wants to smoke, they can do so outside.

I don't know about the premiums but the main consideration is you don't want the place to stink after they move out. Smoking leaves a thin film on everything including the ceiling and walls. If you've ever stayed in a hotel room that was converted from smoking to non-smoking, you know it doesn't work. It'll still stink, it'll always stink to some degree.

If you do get in a situation where you have to rehabilitate after a smoker, I highly recommend a base coat called Kilz (available at Lowes or Home Depot). It's kinda pricey but will lock that stink right in. Then all you'd have to do is thoroughly clean every other surface imaginable and steam clean the carpets.

Not worth it if you ask me.

Smoke residue can be difficult to remove, especially if you have more than one smoker in the house at the same time. The best solution, like with so many other things, is prevention. If there is very good ventilation the house will not become saturated and coated with smoke residue. Is there a kitchen vent? Does it work well? If not, last night’s fish dinner will linger on in more than just your memory. And that greasy smoke will be much, much harder to remove than cigarette or cigar smoke.

The same applies with the rooms where smoking usually occurs; the living room and entertainment room. An inexpensive exhaust fan can be installed to remove the lingering smoke so it doesn’t settle on drapes or fabric in the room. I installed a Nutone silent fan at the apex of the peaked ceiling in my living room, as I am a smoker, and have friends who still smoke. This has kept the whole 1,200 foot house free of the after effects of smoking for two years. I also use a fabric and room deodorizer I make myself out of denatured (rubbing) alcohol, distilled water and essential oil ( I prefer Lavender ). If it is not fabric, smoke simply doesn’t build up, on walls ( they are painted ), floors ( laminate ) and honestly, cooking fumes are more of a problem than smoke ever could be. Yes, smoking is a nasty habit and a health hazard. It has been very socially acceptable for years to demonize smokers. But the reality is that it is a highly addictive habit, and there are going to be smokers in our lives until there is no economical source of smoking material. That’s not going to happen within most of our lifetimes. Do you really want to exclude such a large portion of the population as candidates to rent your apartment or residence? Simple preventative steps can keep you from having to make that decision due to concern for the property.