Cigar smoke from neighbour?

Question

We moved into a block of purpose built masionettes a year ago next door to a neighbour who smokes cigars, 5 to 10 daily. It is only 10 months in that we started to smell the smoke within the house, not the smoke drifting in from the front but tangible smoke. The strange part is it is coming from the kitchen where he does not smoke, he only sits in the front room and smokes. I taste it and feel my tongue burning when I stand by the sink and wash up, i feel as if i have smoked. We have found that the water pipes are within the house and noticed a draft from upstairs water pipe and think that there may be a hole in wall. Unfortunately it wouldnt be visible until we took off kitchen cabinets which would mean redoing our kitchen. So we put foam around the water pipe but the smoke has now changed direction and seems to be in the cupboard next door. I have a 19 month old coughing constantly. putting on oven fan helps but so worried for my son and not ideal to have it on constantly

We are smelling smoke rather than seeing it. We haven't had anything fitted in the kitchen but we did take up tiles (that didn't extend into the cupboards where smell originates) and replace with flooring, the smell doesn't seem to be coming from floor. When I speak of a pipe i don't mean our water pipes but overflow pipes, pipes for the toilet also are within rather than outside of the building... makes the outside look more attractive. Yes, the space around the pipe does go up to the top floor (not smoker's flat) and up to soffits, which do look like they have a hole, probably where draft comes from. but again this smell and tangible taste of smoke is not from upstairs flat. can't think the flooring would have trapped anything as covered existing tiles. what would the water heater be doing to create this smell? john, do you not think the cigar smoke is anything to do with it? many thanks

Answer 1

This sounds like it could be a problem for you. There's not much you can do about it, unless it's a "smoke free" building. You can talk to the building manager and see what he/she has to say and then the tenant, maybe, they can ask him to turn the air fan on while smoking. Don't count on it.
My bet is, your going to have to move. Look for a smoke free building the next time around.

Since this is affecting your health and your sons, it shouldn't affect your lease, get a doctor script if necessary and, if necessary see an attorney.

Answer 2

smoke or smell?if there is no smoke it could be your drains.if there is smoke it could be you wireing,have you have recently done up your kitchen,have you trapped or blocked anything?of course the water pipes are within the house where else should they be?there is not a draft coming from the water pipe ,its coming from the whole in the wall that the pipe comes through.have any water heaters, checked out.