Neighbours incense smelling up our flat

It is such a tricky one and I know nothing about the building aspects of it but did experience it once in a patients home . Oddly enough it was in their bathrooms which back onto each other and it allowed the other persons smoke to permeate through the walls ! If I had not experienced it first hand I don’t think I would have believed it but it did manage to fill up their bathroom ! 

I wonder if they are burning incense right up against your wall ! Do you think some form of air purifier might work ?

Thinking of you ,

Court 

Hi Em,

I live on an estate and often have cooking smells coming through the extractor fan in the bathroom. Although it appears to be working, it's not connected to anything. The wall panel it's attached to, is hollow, from the bottom of the block to the top.  Often have the smell of different cuisines. Maybe you have something similar or air vents / bricks somewhere, that could be covered up. It could be coming in through the floorboards, could silicone around the edges. The other thing that might help is a dab of Vicks under your nose. I bought some in case I was nauseous during chemo, for when I had to change my bag. I also have people smoking weed near my front door and bedroom window. It's horrible having to smell other people's odours. I feel like they're invading my privacy. It's not fair on you when you're battling cancer. Might have to be a bit firmer with your neighbour. The local council may have a mediation service.

Cheryl x

Hi Court, 

My boyfriend bought an air purifier to try to see if it works, it does help some but today the smell was coming through our bedroom walls instead (next to bathrooms) and it was cigarette smoke instead. She's too lazy to walk the extra two meters from her lounge out on to her balcony which I guess says it all. We actually saw her yesterday after I came home from my cancelled chemo (low platelets) and begged her to stop. She said she hasn't done it in forever and must be someone else. Both upstairs and downstairs are empty at the moment, so unless ghosts are smoking and doing incense she lied straight to our faces. 

We will give the purifier a go before contacting the management company who's said they're willing to try to help, but I think it's mainly down to her landlord and her in the end. 

Thank you, hope you're having a lovely day. 

xx Em

Hi Cheryl, 

It's so weird, before this lady moved in there was a Spanish family living there and we never smelt their cooking or anything. We would hear the mother some mornings when their balcony door and our bedroom window would be open as she was getting the sons active during lockdown with some dancing or something - but that only put a smile to my face as it's quite sweet. 

She's filled our bedroom with cigarette smoke this morning, our window is shut but it's somehow seeped through the walls again as she smokes in her lounge and not balcony. Put the air purifier that arrived yesterday in there and think it's done a good job in removing the smell for now. 

We are giving it a go for a few days or weeks before contacting the management company as they've said they're willing to try to help but I think in the end unfortunately it's down to her and her landlord which seems to be no action at all. 

Hope you're having a lovely day xx

Em x

Hope it works for you Missem . Your boyfriend sounds so supportive!

My mum had platelet issues too ! Hope they bounce up for you soon .

Take care ,

Court 

Hello, 

I realise this was 4 years ago, did you get a successful outcome? I'm going through exactly the same thing for over 18 months now and I'm desperate.

Kindest regards, 

Abelhamel

Hi, 

We did in the end, but it was not easy. The lady ended up moving out, due to the lifts constantly breaking and us being on the 6th floor - she was too lazy to walk out on her balcony to smoke so walking up all those steps was not an option for her thankfully. And I think my now husband having to go over there and tell her off constantly got too much as well (easy thing would be to just be respectful and not do it you'd think). 

I know it's not helpful for you at all, and I'm so sorry about that. It was absolutely horrendous when we had to deal with it at the same time as going through everything else. My husband ended up being diagnosed with non-smokers lung cancer two weeks after I finished chemo so I'm happy he never had to experience that during his treatments. No one should have to. 

Have you tried to speak to their and your landlords if you're renting? 

Hello Missum,

Thank you for getting back to me. I have tried everything and am waiting to hear back from the Housing Ombudsman, if they do nothing I will have to move. I am so angry the resident refuses to minimise the fumes knowing what I'm going through. I'm so sorry you went through that and your husband was diagnosed, it sounds like you should sue someone! I had breast cancer surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and I have to go for bowel cancer screening next week as the cancer may have returned.

Wishing your fume free home continues and good health onwards.

Kindest regards,,

Abelhamel