Smoke-Free Housing: Moving Ahead - Making a Smoke-Free Change
Steps for a succesful policy implementation:
1. Survey your tenants. Conduct a survey to find out how many tenants smoke in their apartments and how they would view a smoke-free policy in your building(s). Use the survey to determine if any patterns emerge. Are the no-smoking apartments clustered in buildings, wings, or floors? Use these patterns to decide which areas you will make smoke-free.
2. Determine a budget for incentives. You can speed up the move toward smoke-free buildings by offering incentives to tenants to move to other floors, wings or buildings. These expenses could include moving expenses or other incentives (like savings on rent) for tenants willing to relocate to another apartment.
3. Set a time frame for the change. Check the date when your leases are up for renewal. If your tenants are on month-to-month leases, you can make changes relatively quickly. All that's required is providing a one month notice of changes in policy. If your tenants are on one-year leases, notify them of changes one month prior to their renewal date.
4. Notify tenants of your plans. Well ahead of your smoke-free date, notify tenants of your new policy. Provide them with your reasons to be smoke-free which typically include a combination of health and safety and business concerns. Be clear that the policy you are implementing prohibits smoking, not smokers.
5. Make tenants aware of community cessation services. Many community agencies and organizations offer cessation classes, groups and counseling sessions. The Nebraska Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, provides free and confidential cessation counseling for all Nebraskans.
6. Introduce new leases or addendums. You should include language that makes tenants aware of their obligation not to smoke in their unit and the consequences if they do not meet these obligations. Make sure that residents also know who to call if they suspect a violation of the policy.
7. Post signs. A few days before the building becomes smoke-free, send out an announcement to tenants and employees and post signs at the entry ways.
Enforcement:
With any new policy enforcement can be a concern. Nationwide, property owners have reported little to no problems enforcing smoke-free policies. Oftentimes other residents are aware of a policy violation and will report the infraction to management. Property owners are encouraged to deal with any complaints or violations in the same manner that they deal with other violations such as late rent, noise complaints, etc.
© Copyright 2010 Metro Omaha Tobacco Action Coalition.