Our guide to smoke-free apartment living

If you live in an apartment, you may have noticed the smell of tobacco smoke drifting in from a smoking neighbour. People living in apartments are at greater risk of second-hand smoke exposure because smoke can easily move between residences close by. In NSW, 36% of apartment residents report being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke from a smoking neighbour¹.  

To help residents and owners, corporations make their apartment complex smoke-free, Cancer Council NSW has developed a new toolkit: Smoke-free Apartments: A Guide to Smoke-free Living.  

What are the benefits of a smoke-free apartment? 

Making your apartment complex smoke-free creates a safe and healthy living environment for all residents and can help prevent adverse health conditions such as asthma, coronary heart disease, and lung cancer. 

Other benefits of a smoke-free apartment may include: 

• Reduced cigarette related damage, including burn marks on carpet, furniture, and walls  
• Increased resale value of apartments in the complex 
• Reduced risk of fines to landlords for not providing a healthy living environment for tenants 

How can I achieve smoke-free living? 

One of the most effective ways achieve smoke-free living in an apartment complex is to introduce a smoke-free by-law. By-laws are rules that all residents in strata properties must follow and help manage the shared living environment. Our toolkit provides guidance on how to gain support of residents and develop and implement a smoke-free by-law in NSW strata schemes. 

In NSW, 3 in 5 people support making apartments 100% smoke-free¹. 

Other strategies to address second-hand smoke in your apartment include speaking to the person smoking directly or reporting the issue to your real estate agent or strata manager.  

Supporting smoke free living is a priority for Cancer Council NSW. Everyone has the right to breathe healthy, clean air and our Smoke-Free Apartments toolkit can help people living in apartments in NSW have a healthy smoke free home.  

If you’d like more information on smoke-free apartments, please contact the Tobacco Control team at tacklingtobacco@nswcc.org.au  

_{1. Cancer Council NSW (2022). Cancer Prevention Survey 2022. Internal Cancer Council NSW report: unpublished}