Upstairs Resident Suffers from Smoking by Woman in Her 20s Below... Balcony Filled with Cigarette Butts

A Resident's Struggle
with Indoor Smoking Issues
in Apartment Complexes

Conflicts among residents due to smoking between floors in apartment complexes and other multi-family housing continue to persist. Recently, a resident shared their distress over suffering because of a neighbor on a lower floor who frequently smokes on the balcony.

On July 6, an online post titled "What should I do about someone smoking in my apartment?" was uploaded to the community 'BobaeDream,' along with a photo. The photo clearly shows dozens of cigarette butts and cigarette packs scattered in what appears to be the area in front of an apartment balcony railing.

A resident of an apartment expressed distress over a neighbor smoking indoors. The photo shows several cigarette butts piled up under the window sill. Photo by BobaeDream

The author, identified as A, wrote, "About a year ago, I smelled cigarette smoke in my bedroom and checked the balcony, only to find a young woman in her early 20s smoking. I asked her not to smoke inside the apartment, but I saw her doing it again starting this spring." A continued, "Yesterday, the smell started coming in again, and the situation looked just like the photo. Is there a good way to get her to stop smoking? For reference, the smoker is a woman in her early 20s," seeking advice from others.

In response, online users offered suggestions such as, "First, report it to the management office," "Talk to the upstairs neighbor and confront her together," "Grill pork belly on your balcony every day," "Try talking to her parents," "Share it in the apartment group chat," and "Post a notice in the elevator." However, some expressed concern, commenting, "There is no legal basis to prevent someone from smoking in their own home," and "If you follow some of the advice here, you could end up in trouble for defamation or other issues."

According to the current Multi-Family Housing Management Act, "Residents of multi-family housing must make efforts not to cause harm to other residents by smoking inside their own units, such as on balconies or in bathrooms." However, there are no specific penalties or fines. Residents can establish "no smoking inside units" rules through management regulations, but these rules also lack enforceable power.