BiggerPockets

Do you allow smoking in middle to low income areas? I have completely rehabbed a property and would like to find solid non smoking tenants but will that seriously deter renters? Its a two unit, with 1 unit per floor. If the lower level unit smokes and the sencond floor doesnt, the smell will cause issues? What are your thoughts?

I highly doubt the smell from the lower will seep into the upper.

I think your cutting your potential renters by 30%. If the tenant moves out, you generally have to paint, clean, and shampoo carpets anyway which will alleviate most if not all of the smell. It's your option if you want to leave a unit unrented while waiting for the perfect one. IMHO there are no perfect tenants.

BTW, my mother smokes and lives in the lower of my duplex. The upper does not smell at all.

Do you guys think insurance costs may go down if the apartment complex is officially non-smoking?

Also, I would be willing to pay extra to live in a non-smoking building. But I am not sure that I am the "typical" tenant.

Vikram

I disagree completely. My last tenant smoked, and the current tenant doesn't. You could never tell the last tenant smoked. I go there every month to collect rent. Cleaning, painting, and shampooing generally takes care of it. But everyone has their own preference. I want my apartment rented smoker or not. If you have a waiting list to rent your apartment, then be more choosy. Otherwise, smokers do not mean irresponsible tenants.

My rental agreement states everything needed as far as burns in the carpet etc...If they burn it, they pay for it, AND they know it.

The lower class smokes! It's as simple as that! If you don't allow smoking in a typical lower class or blue collar rental, you will have a much smaller pool of tenants from which to choose. Moreover, people will likely still smoke in your rental - either the tenants or their friends. Whatever sanctions your lease calls for in the event the tenant smokes is a JOKE in typical rentals. What are you going to do - sue a lower class or blue-collar tenant? Good luck with that!

I'd just let the tenants smoke and keep your rentals filled.

Good Luck,

Mike

Voted you up Mike. I couldn't agree more.

It's the non-smokers who are basically voicing their opinions because they don't like smoking, and that's fine. But as far as a smart business decision, it far from that. Keeping it rented is the smart business decision, smoker or not.

Smoke smell can and is removable with the right cleaning, painting, etc...I know this first hand.