smoke free housing presentation

Smoke-Free Smoke-Free HousingHousing

Provided By:Tobacco Use Prevention Program Staff at

Sedgwick County Health Department

"Currently, the only way to effectively eliminate health risk associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity." American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers

"Smoke-free apartment communities not only promote a healthy resident population, but

also a healthy bottom line for owners and investors."

-Dave Watkins, Chairman of the Board of the National Apartment

Association

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand SmokeSecondhand smoke is the third leading

cause of preventable death in the United States.

Approximately 53,000 people die annually from diseases caused by secondhand smoke, with hundreds of thousands more suffering ill effects from exposure.

Tenants want to breathe smoke free air in their apartments;

Drifting secondhand smoke is a health hazard and decreases tenants' quality of life;

It is legal to adopt a non-smoking policy; A non-smoking policy saves you money:

Reduce maintenance costsReduce turn-over time and costsReduce fire risk

Non-smoking units are easy to fill because most tenants want to live in a non-smoking building.

The most important fact? A smoke-free policy is NOT

discriminatory.

Myths vs. RealityMyths vs. Reality

Myth 1: If I implement a smoke-free policy, I will lose money.

Myths vs. RealityMyths vs. RealityMyth 2: A smoke-free policy will alienate tenants. I will lose valuable residents.

Myths vs. RealityMyths vs. RealityMyth 3: Enforcing a smoke-free policy would be too difficult.

Save Money, Save Save Money, Save Your BuildingYour Building

Some interesting facts:◦Maintenance Savings◦Risk of Fire-Smoking is the leading cause of

household fires. Of the property completely destroyed in 2002, an estimated $6.055 billion occurred in residential structures, an estimated $926 million of which occurred in apartments. (NFPA Fire Analysis and Research, Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2002.)

◦Improved Resale Value

How To Make Your How To Make Your Buildings Smoke-FreeBuildings Smoke-Free

Step 1:Survey Residents

◦How many smokers/nonsmokers?◦Demand for smoke-free housing/units?◦How many buildings/units should be

nonsmoking?◦Handout - Healthy Air Survey

How To Make Your How To Make Your Buildings Smoke-FreeBuildings Smoke-Free

Step 2:Phase-In Changes

◦Decide when to make change: pick a date, or phase-in as residents turn-over

◦Change lease provisions Provide copy of policy Have residents sign that they understand!

◦Place Clear signs around the property

What To Include In What To Include In Your PolicyYour Policy

List of the places where smoking is and is not allowed

Who the policy applies to (tenants, guests, staff, service persons, etc.)

Who is responsible for enforcing the rule Consequences for violations Effective date of the policy Definition of smoking Whether to have a designated smoking area

outside (make sure it is located 25 feet away from doors, windows, and major walkways)

Sample Policy handout

How To Make Your Buildings How To Make Your Buildings Smoke-FreeSmoke-Free

Step 3:Notice, Notice, Notice!

◦Give tenants at least the same amount of notice as the time period for which they pay rent – 30 days

◦60 or 90 days notice is even better◦Designate which units are smoke-free – or all of

them◦Make the smoke-free policy part of the new

applicant process◦Include “no smoking” in tenant responsibilities◦Create outdoor smoking areas, if you wish

How To Make Your Buildings How To Make Your Buildings Smoke-FreeSmoke-Free

Step 4:What will this cost?

◦Policy and lease agreement development: $0 (see handout)

◦Tenant education and Policy Promotion: cost of photo-copying

◦Smoke-free policy signs: $10 to $25 each◦Smoke-free property: Priceless!

Fire damages Commodore Apartments – February 6, 2009 Wichita, KS

Wichita Eagle:Careless smoking ignited a fire that

damaged an apartment at the Commodore Apartments early this morning…. The resident of Apartment 713 told authorities he was smoking when he fell asleep on the sofa. He woke up and decided to go to the bathroom.

When he came back out, the sofa was on fire…. The damage estimate for the fire has been set at $40,000.

Kansas Tobacco QuitlineKansas Tobacco Quitline

ResourcesResources

American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation

http://no-smoke.org/document.php?id=214

Smoke-free Oregon http://www.smokefreeoregon.com/housing/landlords/how-to_guide.php

How Landlords Can Prohibit Smoking in Rental Housing http://talc.phlaw.org/pdf_files/0076.pdf

Becky TuttleBecky Tuttle Hilary MeisterHilary Meister660-7251660-7251 660-7198660-7198

btuttle@sedgwick.govbtuttle@sedgwick.gov hmeister@sedgwick.govhmeister@sedgwick.gov