what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

I rent office space for my small business. It is a small building and I do not know whether there are rules that are based on the size of the building. There is a new tenant here and all of their employees smoke in their office, which is below mine. I am sorry if I offend any smokers but I think that is so rude and atrocious. I have spoken to the landlord and I am sure that she has asked them to stop and that she will do whatever it takes to put a stop to this. I was hoping that good weather would = no more smoking. Well, it is gorgeous out and they are smoking today. When they do smoke outside, they litter their butts all over the parking lot. There is a cigarette disposal right in front of the door!!!! I am getting disgusted. If I go down to say anything to them right now, I am going to tell them off!!!! I don't even care if they are evicted over this. Who the hell rents an office in a shared building and then lights up indoors???? What remedies do I, as a fellow tenant have? What remedies does my landlord have? I feel that she would try to accommodate me. I will not tolerate second hand smoke coming into my office and I do not think she wants it in her building.

UPDATE: Landlord left me a message saying that she spoke to the peple last week and they claimed that only 2 of their employees smoke and they sometimes stand in the doorway to the building but not inside. We have had other tenants who smoked in the doorway. While that is bad enough, I know that these people are not even going to the doorway and they are smoking inside. The owner of the company also told the LL that he would come and introduce himself to me. He never did that! The landlord said she will call again and she will call one of the other businesses to make sure that they are not the culprits. I already know that they are not because they actually asked me if I had noticed that the people from the new business have been smoking inside. Also, I ran into another tenant who claims that the new people have some relation to my landlord. So what???!!!! I hope this is not a long battle.

Message edited 3/23/2007 2:23:33 PM.

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Can someone at least tell me to tell these people where to put their cigarettes?

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

are you in NY? because I do not think that ANYWHERE in NY are you allowed to smoke inside a building unless its a private home.

I would complain to the building manager or landlord

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Keep complaining to the landlord, Kerie!

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

You can notify the health dept.

Complaint Form

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Kerie - we have some info posted at work that cites the health code. I'll try to find the flyer on it & get you the info.

I know in NYC, you need a special ventalation system if you allow smoking in the office

eta. if it's a one person office that is. Any more than that, I believe it's illegal.

Message edited 3/22/2007 11:10:41 PM.

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Any help is appreciated. I am considering plastering some notices in the hallways. I expect to hear from the landlord tomorrow and she's always been reasonable, so I expect that she will want to help me.

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building?

Hey Kerie,
I'm pretty sure it's illeagal for them to be smoking in doors. You should be able to contact the board of health and report them.

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

bumping for update. If I call the landlord a few more times, should I at least try to confront them before calling board of health?

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

Kerie -

Personally, I would leave it up to the DOH to enforce.

I have the violation notice our building received re: smoking in the outdoor area (under the overhang). It includes info on the NYC Smoke-Free Air Act. If want me to fax it or email it, FM me.

Message edited 3/23/2007 2:50:29 PM.

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

I HATE when people do that!

DH and I were walking out of Ruby Tuesday's a few months ago and this woman was standing in the vestibule puffing away GROSS!!!!!!

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

I am a little confused.... is your LL lying out right to you? She said she spoke to them last week about the issue, but you just brought it up to her today? Obviously she knows if she spoke to them last week about it?

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

Re: what remedies do I have re: smoking in office building? UPDATE

Call Health Dept, my good friend is a heavy smoker, smoked in her office all day...one of the other tenants called heath dept, they were fined and she no long smokes in the office.....it smells much better when I go in to visit