BENEFITS

For Managers

For Renters

Market Advantages

Renters want smoke-free living. Building owners and managers have an opportunity to appeal to this large group of renters by offering them a smoke-free apartment.

Research conducted in 2009 by Live Smoke Free and Wilder Research found:

• The majority of renters (75%) would be likely to choose a smoke-free building over a building that allows smoking if the buildings were the same in every other way
• Renters are interested in buildings that provide outdoor smoke-free areas such as balconies, entryways, and entirely smoke-free properties
• In order to live in a smoke-free building, many renters are willing to live in a building that does not have a pool or playground, drive farther to work, and pay more rent.

Tobacco smoke leaves sticky residue on walls, curtains, cabinets, blinds, appliances, fixtures, and ceilings. The odor often stays in carpets, curtains, and walls. Dropped ashes may result in burn damage to tiles, carpets, countertops, and bathtubs.

An apartment that has been smoked in will probably need to be cleaned, primed, painted, and sealed; carpets and countertops may need to be replaced; even floor tiles and sub floors may need to be cleaned. A 2007 estimate from an Oregon restoration service stated that the average cost of conversion for a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment that has been smoked in is over $15,000! Many building owners and property managers have said that cleaning a smoking unit often costs 2-3 times as much as cleaning a non-smoking unit.

Smoking-related fires are usually caused by a dropped cigarette; often by someone who has fallen asleep or may be under the influence of alcohol. A dropped cigarette may lie in furniture or bed linens and could smolder for up to 30-45 minutes. The smoldering cigarette can cause smoke which contains carbon monoxide and other highly toxic gases that can put residents at risk of injury or death.

Apartments account for a larger share of smoking-related fires than any other residential structure. Smoking is the leading cause of residential fire death in Minnesota and around the country. The fatality rate due to a smoking-related fire is nearly four times higher than the overall residential fire rate; injuries are more than twice as likely. In 2009, smoking caused one-quarter (25%) of multi-housing fire deaths in Minnesota. 25% of victims who die in a smoking-related fire are not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire. Children, spouses, neighbors, friends, roommates, firefighters and others may be injured or die in smoking-related fires.

Fewer Complaints from Residents

Removing secondhand smoke from the air in your apartment building eliminates a common cause of tension among your residents. Property managers frequently report fewer resident complaints after a policy is implemented.

Green Certification Credits

If you are planning to develop a new property or renovate an old one to make it more eco-friendly, many green certification programs offer point(s) for a smoke-free policy. For more information on smoke-free policies and LEED building certification visit their website.

Protection From Secondhand Smoke

All residents, guests, and staff members are protected from the serious health dangers associated with secondhand smoke exposure.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Benefits

Housing developers in every community in Minnesota can take advantage of  Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for adopting a smoke-free policy. In 2018  Washington County approved a Qualified Allocation Plan that requires applicants to include a smoke-free policy for development applications for new construction or rehabilitation. Dakota County followed suit in 2019. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), the City of Minneapolis, and the City of St. Paul award a point to development applications that include a smoke-free policy. For more information, read our handout about Low Income Housing Tax Credits in MN.

Potential Insurance Savings

Some insurance companies nationwide are encouraging smoke-free policies, and offering discounts for properties who adopt them. Examples include American Family Insurance and Capitol Insurance Group. Check with your insurance provider to see how a smoke-free policy might benefit your rates. View our webinar: Insurance Savings for Smoke-Free Housing. Learn more here or check out this post from American Family Insurance.

Smoke-free Policies Are Legal

A building owner/manager can legally make a rental building (or entire property) completely smoke free.