Re: "Landlords shouldn't rule out smokers," Aug. 3.
When landlords select tenants, paying rent on time is only part of the equation of whom to bring into the community. No matter what anyone says, smoking impacts huge volumes of air that people, in addition to the smoker, need to breathe.
There are no doubts that smokers have rights to smoke on their property (such as balconies) any time of the day or night. But to accommodate those rights, non-smokers have to give up their rights to protect themselves from harmful gases they actively avoid (smoke entering home via windows or hallways). It also means parents cannot protect their children from the smoke.
Non-smokers have few options to protect themselves and their family when a new neighbour moves in and smokes on his or her balcony. In most cases, the non-smokers will seal themselves into their apartment (particularly uncomfortable during summer), confront the neighbour or move, none of which is good for the community.
Al Butler
Victoria
