smoke free housing presentation
DESCRIPTION
This presentation goes over how easy it is to adopt a smoke free housing policy for apartment managers and explains how this type of policy is within their rights.TRANSCRIPT
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
[email protected]@sedgwick.gov [email protected]@sedgwick.gov