FactSheet: Strata Smoking

• Are Apartment Blocks the New No Smoking Areas? Apr 2017 - Changes to smoking rules in parts of the country such as NSW and Queensland are setting the stage for ‘smoke
• Why you and your Owners’ Corporation should go Smoke-free Sep 2016 - Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia Inc. is willing to assist and pay for the legal registration by ten Owners’ Corporations/ Strata

 Smoking should be banned from balconies in apartment buildings

LookUpStrata
Jun 2015: We recently carried out a poll to find out how our subscribers feel about strata smoking, particularly on balconies. Should it be banned?

Achieving smoke-free apartment living: An information kit for strata title accommodation owners, agents and tenants

Cancer Council NSW
The aims of this information kit are to:

• Increase awareness of the health, legal and financial benefits of 100% smoke-free housing
• Inform NSW strata title owners, agents and tenants about ways to address the problem of strata smoking and second-hand smoke in apartment blocks and other types of multi-unit housing such as townhouses, condominiums and villas
• Contribute to the increased availability of smoke-free housing options in NSW.

This kit includes information on ways to deal with strata smoking in your scheme, such as Examples of ‘smoke-free’ strata by-laws

Smoke Free Muilti-Unit Housing

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

A guide for owners,tenants, agents, authorities and Governments.

Sydney landlord ordered to pay $11,000 to tenant because of chain-smoking neighbour

Michael Evans, The Sydney Morning Herald
23 Nov 2015: A Sydney landlord has been ordered to pay more than $11,000 in compensation to a tenant whose flat was made unliveable by a chain-smoking elderly neighbour living in the flat below.

Note: This is a very interesting case! I had a discussion with Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers about this matter. With Allison’s permission, I have published the discussion below:

LookUpStrata: Hi Allison, just a question about this case. I noticed the body corporate ‘declined to intervene’ and told the owner to take action against the neighbour. What would have occurred if Lynette Laming was a lot owner, rather than a tenant? Can the Landlord now seek action to recover his loss?

Allison: Good question. I am running a case in the Supreme Court alleging nuisance (water penetration causing mould). It is clearer as the common property facade is the issue. Smoking could cause a nuisance. There is an argument that the OC may permit / adopt a nuisance by refusing to enforce by-laws or by failing to maintain the common property (if smoke could come through the CP into a lot).

It will come down to the facts of the each case but this is going to be an interesting area. The decision in the current nuisance case I am running will be a starting point as there is little case law that is strata specific.

The full notes of the case can be found here: Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales – Bhandari v Laming [2015] NSWCATAP 224

STRATA SCHEMES MANAGEMENT REGULATION 2016 – SCHEDULE 3 – Model by-laws

– including those concerning smoking and smoke drift for residential strata schemes.

Cancer Council NSW

NSW Government’s proposed strata law reforms Submission from Cancer Council NSW

Cancer Council NSW commends the NSW Government for considering the problem of secondhand smoke in strata schemes as part of strata law reform in NSW.

Smoke-free NSW: what does it mean for strata schemes and community schemes?

NSW Health

Smoking in Strata

Hynes Legal
Apr 2016: In terms of FAQs in strata, smoking is one of the biggies. If you want to know the rules about strata smoking, particularly Queensland strata, read this.

What does the future hold for by-law enforcement?

Jason Carlson, Thynne + Macartney
Jan 2015: By-Law enforcement: Bodies corporate in Queensland may soon be given the power to tow vehicles, issue on-the-spot fines for by-law breaches and ban pets and strata smoking from their scheme. Will that be good for community living?

Give Unit Owners Rights to Self Regulate Balcony Smoking: More Time Needed to Consider Smoking Issues for Strata Properties

Strata Community Australia (QLD)
Strata Community Australia (QLD) has expressed concerns towards the State Government and the Opposition against any knee jerk reactions to calls over the last 24 hours for a ban on strata smoking on apartment balconies.

Is it illegal to smoke cigarettes in an Owners Corporation?

Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Apr 2016: Strata smoking – With smoking rates declining in Victoria and smokers increasingly being disallowed from lighting up in certain areas, how does this impact people smoking in Owners Corporations and what does the current Owners Corporation Act 2006 and Regulations 2007 say?

ACT: Q&A Bylaws to ban smoking in apartments

Jan Browne, Ian McNamee & Partners
Feb 2016: Question: Are there any bylaws for strata schemes in the ACT to ban strata smoking in apartments?

• SA: Q&A What Can I Do About Smoke Drift From Neighbour Smoking On Balcony Feb 2017 - Question: I am unable to have my door open or sit outside due to my neighbour smoking on their balcony.