Live Smoke Free and Public Health Law Center recently partnered to instruct a continuing education course for Saint Paul area realtors on “Smoke-Free Homes and Saint Paul’s Smoking Disclosure Ordinance”.
Realtors play a crucial role in effective smoke-free housing policies, especially when it comes to individually owned units like condos and townhomes. In 2021, St. Paul passed a smoking disclosure ordinance for common interest communities that went into effect January 2022. This means that sellers of units like condos and townhomes must disclose their homeowners associations’ smoking policies before listing a unit for sale. A better informed buyer can make better decisions about their home, including knowing what their exposure to secondhand smoke may look like or what smoking rules they are agreeing to comply with.
The course covered:
- The benefits of smoke-free homes and the rationale for smoke-free housing policies
- State and local smoke-free housing laws and how they apply to real estate
- Saint Paul’s smoking disclosure ordinance
There are numerous market advantages to smoke-free policies, including higher market value and attraction to buyers. Smoke-free policies cut costs of unit turnover and potential fire damage, in addition to potential tax credits and insurance savings.
This ordinance is an important step toward creating healthier multi-unit housing, and it offers a model to other cities. Local governments can consider similar policies to ensure transparency and protect the health of residents. For these policies to be successful, education, clear communication, and enforcement mechanisms are essential for implementation of a disclosure policy.