The ISMA adopted a resolution in September 2006 to educate owners and managers of apartment complexes about the risks of second-hand smoke and methods to create smoke-free buildings and common areas.
A smoke-free apartment policy is NOT discriminatory, despite many myths against this statement. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a person's right to smoke is not protected, therefore, landlords are free to enforce a smoke-free policy on their properties.
Currently, there is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
Cigarette smoke is a group A carcinogen, the same group as asbestos.
Second-hand smoke has been proven to cause cancer, heart disease and sudden infant death syndrome.
Tobacco smoke aggravates chronic illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.
If a resident is injured or made seriously ill by involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke in one of your buildings, the individual may choose to take legal action, and your insurance may not cover that liability.
This resource center is designed to educate owners and managers of apartment complexes about the risks of second-hand smoke and methods to create smoke-free buildings and common areas.
