Location: Oregon
Hi there, tenant in Clackmas County Oregon here. I specifically chose my apartment because of their “no smoking on the property” policy. I have severe MCAS and respiratory issues that make me struggle to breathe on even the best days, so cigarette smoke in particular causes me to really get sick. One of my dealbreakers in a potential rental is if smoking is allowed onsite, so I was thrilled when the leasing agent assured me that wouldn’t be a problem here. She met me to exchange keys on my move in day and noticed someone smoking so that day she sent a property wide text reminding people that they all signed contracts stating that no smoking was allowed within 20 feet of the property. Obviously the smoking continued, not just once every now and then but multiple times of day by multiple tenants. It’s a 20 unit complex and I’ve seen half of those people smoking. The smoke gets blown in my window/door/fan etc daily. I reported this again and she sent out another text to everyone, but it continued. Finally I said to her that if the chronic smoking continued I wouldn’t be able to continue living here because I had to use my steroids for my respiratory flare up and have doubled all of my medication. The tenants here don’t care that their smoke doesn’t know how to just stay in the bubble of smoke they’re marinating in and has real life, severe consequences for people with respiratory diseases. Management is now basically ignoring me and idk what to do. I’ve complained in writing 3 times and informed them that this is failure to enforce the terms of the lease. Had I known that I was moving in to an ashtray I definitely wouldn’t have even considered this place. I can’t afford an attorney but I know that failure to enforce the terms of a lease agreement is illegal, especially something like this which affects other people. If anyone has any advice on what to do (and please don’t say write a letter to the landlord) because I’ve done several already, please share. Thanks.