Lewiston Maine Homes For Sale

Smoke-free living

Are you a landlord? I found a great resource for you if you would like to make your building a smoke-free environment. According to the Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine:

• It’s Your Choice. If tenants are smoking in your apartment building, and you wish to eliminate the health risks of secondhand smoke, not to mention smoke damage and fire hazards, it is completely up to you as the landowner to make that choice.

• Existing Smokers. In privately owned, non-subsidized housing, the written contract (lease or rental agreement) you have with your tenants determines your rights and responsibilities. This  agreement governs whether and how changes may be made during the term of the agreement. It also determines what you are required to do in order to change the terms of the lease at the time of renewal. For more info, go to www.smokefreeforme.org. I found their three “Myths and Reality” quite interesting.

Units in public housing or other subsidized housing have slightly different rules, but you can still go smoke-free. Contact your housing authority for the specifics.