Smoke free policies in multi-housing units have the ability to protect residents while saving the property owners money. When a resident smokes within their unit, there is no way to prevent secondhand smoke from spreading to the neighboring units through shared vents, ducts, and cracks. Secondhand smoke exposure from those smoking units can cause health problems among the non-smoking residents, especially if they have a chronic disease like asthma, heart disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoke-free policies can reduce apartment turn over costs, reduce the risk of fire, and potentially reduce insurance costs.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): HUD proposed a ban on smoking in all public housing properties in November of 2015. The proposed rule could ban all lit tobacco products in any living units, common indoor areas, administrative areas, and all outdoor areas within 25 feet of housing and administrative office buildings.