Neighbour Smoke Complaint Letter Builder

Smoke that drifts through vents, doors and balconies is one of the most common housing complaints. A calm, specific letter is more likely to get a reply than an angry one, and it leaves a dated record.

What a good letter includes

It says what you notice, where it enters your home, how often it happens and how it affects you. It asks for a specific response. The builder follows that structure, and you can edit every line.

Keep a record

Write down the date, time and a one-line description each time it happens. If you later involve a landlord, a log shows a pattern rather than a single bad evening. Keep a copy of every letter you send.

What the law says depends on where you live

Some provinces ban smoking in the common areas of apartment buildings, for example the Northwest Territories, and Ontario’s tenancy law lets a landlord apply to evict a tenant whose smoking interferes with other tenants’ reasonable enjoyment. Many places have no rule about smoke inside a private unit, which is why a lease clause matters. The smoke-free housing guide explains the main situations, and the lease clause generator helps landlords and tenants agree on wording. For the health background, see secondhand smoke and health.