Smoke-free Housing

Have you been thinking about implementing a no-smoking rule in your properties? Have your tenants complained about secondhand smoke drifting into their apartments? You are not alone. More and more landlords are making their properties completely smoke-free.

It is entirely legal.

Just like prohibiting pets, landlords can prohibit smoking. Smoke-free policies are not discriminatory. Your policy prohibits smoking. It does not prohibit smokers from renting your apartment.

When you make your properties smoke-free, you can:

attract more tenants
save money by reducing the need for repairs
reduce potential legal liability
eliminate the leading cause of residential fires
potentially reduce your insurance premiums
reduce conflicts among tenants
eliminate exposure to a Class A carcinogen

Implementing a no-smoking rule is simple.

When your current tenants renew their leases, have them sign the model No-Smoking Lease Addendum available in the Resources section of this website.

No-smoking policies are largely self-enforcing. Once the rule is established, you are likely to attract tenants who want to live in a smoke-free environment.

To make implementing and enforcing your no-smoking rule easier:

post “no smoking” signs
clean up cigarette butts and remove ashtrays
tell your tenants why you have a no-smoking rule
have tenants tell their guests about the no-smoking rule
respond quickly and consistently to potential violations
tell your tenants that they will be held financially responsible for violating the rule

For more information on the benefits of going smoke-free and how to make your building smoke-free, read the landlord guide in the Resources section of this website or contact the Massachusetts Smoke-Free Housing Project at (617) 373 2026.

The Massachusetts Smoke-Free Housing Project is an initiative of the Public Health Advocacy Institute and is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The information and materials contained on this website are for informational purposes only and are not offered or intended to be and should not be construed to be legal advice nor to be a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed attorney.