The building in this example
- Type
- Three-story brick walk-up, twelve units, built in the 1920s
- Heat
- Shared boiler with radiators in every unit
- Residents
- All renters; three households smoke indoors at the start
- Leases
- Twelve-month terms with staggered renewal dates
The situation
Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.
Complaints about smoke in the stairwell and in several units have been increasing. Two non-smoking residents mention they may not renew. The owner talks with an attorney and plans a gradual change.
- The attorney reviews the existing lease form and drafts a smoke-free addendum covering units, stairs, the back porch and the entry steps, including vaping and cannabis.
- Every household receives a letter explaining the policy, why it is coming, and that it will take effect for each unit at its next renewal or at any new lease.
- The owner meets briefly with the three smoking households to explain the timeline and the planned outdoor smoking spot at the back of the lot, away from windows.
- Maintenance seals radiator pipe sleeves and plumbing openings in the stack below the units that complained most, and adds door sweeps on every floor.
- Over the year, two of the smoking households renew and sign the addendum. One moves out, and that unit receives a full smoker turnover before re-leasing.
- The stairwell carpet, which held years of odor, is replaced with a hard surface during a quiet week, with residents notified in advance.
- By the end of the year all twelve leases include the addendum.
Complaints fall over the year, with most of the change coming after the sealing work and the first renewals. The owner adopts a standard turnover scope for the building and keeps the outdoor spot.
What changed, and when it helped
| Step | Effect on complaints | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Letter and meetings | Small but quick | Some residents changed habits before they had to |
| Sealing pipe sleeves and doors | Noticeable within weeks | Mostly helped units directly above smokers |
| Outdoor smoking spot | Reduced porch and stair smoking | Placement away from windows mattered |
| Renewals with addendum | Gradual | Each renewal removed one indoor source |
| Stairwell flooring replaced | Removed lingering hallway odor | Common-area cost carried by the owner |
Questions the owner had to answer along the way
- What happens if a resident under the new addendum keeps smoking indoors?
- How will complaints be received and recorded fairly?
- Is the outdoor spot far enough from windows and the alley?
- Which former smoking units need a full turnover, and when?
General information for Capitol Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.