SMOKE FREE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING: WHAT IS IT? DO MY TENANTS WANT

THIS? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Presented by

Matthew Competiello, Program ManagerAmerican Lung Association in Florida

Date: 16 July 2012

What is “Smoke-Free” Housing?• Has policy in the lease agreement defining

where smoking can and cannot take place.• No cookie-cutter policy.• Smoke Free Policies generally ban smoking:

Inside unitsOn patios and balconies In breezeways 20-25 feet away from entrances In common areas In certain residential buildings

Clearing the Air on Smoke-Free Policies

• Smokers are welcome.• This is not a mandate to get your residents to

quit smoking.• A Smoke Free Policy simply protects the

property (your assets) and residents.

Do Tenants Want to Live in a Smoke-Free Environment?

Source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2007 to 2008

Smoke-Free Preference Crosses Economic Status

• 72% of Americans with incomes less than $20,000 do not smoke.*

• 75% of African Americans do not smoke.*• 85% of Hispanics do not smoke.*• 90% of persons aged 65+ do not smoke.*

*Data comes from Dept. of Health and Human Services, CDC, National Center for Statistics report: “Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Trends in Smoking Cessation” (2008).

A Florida Survey Found…• 2 out of 3 Florida adult smokers (64.6%) always or

usually go outside to smoke.*• 1 out of every 10 adult smokers (11.6%) never go

outside to smoke.*

*Data comes from 4,000 randomized individuals selected by telephone (2006 Florida Adult Tobacco Survey)

Demand for Smoke-Free Housing?• Marketing surveys across the country have

consistently shown anywhere between 70% - 80% of people want to live in a smoke-free unit.

• Boston Housing Authority found between 80%-90% of their tenants want to live in a smoke-free community.

Why the Demand for Smoke-Free?

• Fewer and fewer people are smoking these days.

• Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a discomfort, an annoyance, and a serious health hazard.

What’s The Problem With Smoking In My Unit?

• Tobacco Smoke is Uncontrollable. • The American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) concluded: “At present the only means of effectively eliminating health risk associated with indoor smoke exposure is to ban smoking activity.” (June 30, 2005)

Housing Authorities and Affordable Housing in New England Reported…

• It costs about 3 to 7 times MORE MONEY to renovate a unit that allows smoking.

A Breakdown of The ReportCosts to Rehabilitate a Unit Where Smoking is Prohibited vs. a Unit

Where Smoking is AllowedNon-Smoker Light Smoker Heavy Smoker

Paint $168 $222 $478

Flooring $50 $942 $1,422

Appliances $60 $75 $489

Bathroom $40 $60 $400

General Cleaning $240 $480 $720

Total $558 $1,779 $3,509

Data reflects surveys from housing authorities and subsidized housing facilities in New England. Collected and reported by Smoke-Free Housing New England, 2009

How Much is Smoking Costing You?Non-Smoking

UnitSmoked-in Unit

(5-7 years) Difference

(+ or -)

Carpet $80 $895 - $815Vinyl $0 $700 - $700Walls $0 $550 - $550Laminate $0 $250 - $250General Cleaning $90 $300 - $210Surrounds of Tub $0 $45 - $45Blinds $0 $30 - $30Refrigerator $20 $45 - $25Stove $20 $45 - $25Dishwasher $20 $35 - $15Total $230 $2,895 - $2,665Source: Bill Batson, Housing Maintenance Manager,Senior Services of Snohomish County, MT (May 2009)

A 2011 UCLA STUDY FOUND

• For a single multi-unit housing property:The average cost of renovating a unit that allowed

smoking was nearly $5,000.The likelihood of incurring smoking-related costs

was reduced by half with the presence of a complete smoke-free policy.

Portland Tribune Photos

Protect Your Property and Residents from Fires

• Cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products are the #1 cause of residential fires.*

• Cigarettes are also the #1 cause of fire fatalities, killing 700-900 people each year.*

* According to annual reports by the National Fire Prevention Council

Will A Smoke-Free Policy Save Me Money On Insurance?

• Check with your provider.• Also check with your provider for a “Standard

Pollution Exclusion.”

• This is where the PSA will play. Jennifer please put this in.

Conclusion

• Having a smoke-free policy for your building is a necessity.

• It saves you money, makes your property more pleasant to live in, and your tenants will thank you for it.

• Thank You!

Questions

www.TouchBroward.org

www.BRHPC.org

Matthew CompetielloProgram Manager

American Lung AssociationServing South Florida

2020 South Andrews Ave.Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316(954) 727-0908 Direct Line

(954) 524-3162 Fax mcompetiello@lungfla.org

This publication was supported by the Cooperative Agreement Award Number U58DP003661-01 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.