Second-hand tobacco smoke is a known cause of cancer and any level of exposure is unsafe. Residents of retirement villages are particularly susceptible to second-hand smoke as they spend more time at home and often live in close proximity to their neighbours.
Addressing second-hand smoke in retirement villages
Cancer Council NSW is frequently contacted by the community, including people who live in retirement villages, seeking advice on what they can do to stop second-hand smoke from drifting into their home and negatively affecting their health and wellbeing. Some ways smoke-drift can be addressed in retirement villages include:
- Communicating directly with the person smoking (verbally or write a letter) and politely asking them to smoke where it won’t impact others
- Reporting the issue to your village manager and asking for their assistance in addressing the problem
- Introducing a 100% smoke-free village rule
How to introduce a smoke-free village rule
Retirement Village rules are made to ensure residents enjoy a peaceful and comfortable village. Second-hand smoke-drift can interfere with this enjoyment. The most effective way to ensure residents and workers are protected from exposure to second-hand smoke is to introduce a 100% smoke-free village rule. This involves:
- Gaining support for a smoke-free village rule by speaking to other residents about the benefits of smoke-free living.
- Adding the issue to the agenda of the next residents meeting.
- Introducing a smoke-free village rule through a special resolution at the residents meeting. The village rule is passed if 75% of residents agree.
We’re here to help
Enabling more people to live smoke-free by reducing the community’s exposure to second-hand smoke is an ongoing priority for Cancer Council NSW. If you have any questions about developing or implementing a smoke-free village rule, please contact the Tobacco Control Unit at Cancer Council NSW at tacklingtobacco@nswcc.org.au.
Alternatively, download our FAQ Fact Sheet aimed at residents and village managers which addresses common questions about smoke-free village rules.
Key Resources
These posters help communicate smoke-free village rules in retirement villages.
 Thank you for not smoking |
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| Term | Definition |
| Annual Management Meeting | A meeting of the residents and village operator held within 4-months following the end of the financial year. |
| Motion | A proposal put forward to be voted on at a residents meeting. |
| Residents Committee | A group led by residents which regularly meets to discuss residents concerns and support the overall management of the village. |
| Residents Meeting | A meeting of the village residents to discuss village management, other issues or vote on matters requiring resident consent. |
| Retirement villages Act 1999 | The NSW law that outlines the rights and obligations of retirement village residents and operators in NSW. It does not cover Residential Land Lease Communities or Strata Titled Retirement Villages. |
| Smoke-drift | The movement of tobacco smoke from one lot into a nearby lot or common area. |
| Special Resolution | A resolution passed at a residents meeting of the retirement village in which at least 75% of residents vote in favour. |
| Village Operator | The person who manages or controls the retirement village. |
| Village Rules | Rules that all residents of a retirement village must follow. |