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Landlords Applaud City’s New Rental Law

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Landlords required to draft, disclose smoking policy to tenants

A new law in Buffalo, New York creates more work for landlords.

There was little notice when the law went into effect this spring.

Landlords must now draft an additional disclosure document- one that lays out whether smoking is allowed on the rental property, and if so, where. The tenant must receive this disclosure before they sign. Landlords also must modify rental leases to track the new policy.

So why are landlords so happy to have this extra work?

In part, because legislators took the time to survey landlords and tenants alike before crafting the new rules. An eviction judge participated in the drafting of the law.

Litigation over second-hand smoking is rampant in Buffalo, most commonly in eviction cases. The courts consistently have shown leniency with tenants who wish to break their lease commitment because someone else in the building smokes. In fact, the cases have defined second-hand smoke as a hazard that destroys habitability – a legal term of art in constructive eviction cases.

The lawmakers are hopeful that this new language will quell a number of landlord-tenant disputes. Landlords in turn are happy because it could keep them out of court.

Landlords are also in favor of the law, not so much for what it says on its face, but what’s between the lines. The city falls short of dictating to a landlord whether to allow smoking, as this is still a legal activity. But clearly the intent is to encourage nonsmoking policies in rental housing. This is evidenced by the enthusiastic involvement of anti-tobacco associations in drafting the rules, and promoting some significant benefits to entice landlords to go smokeless:

Tenants favor nonsmoking rentals. Less than 1 in 5 adults smoke.

Tenants with a nonsmoking preference will pay higher rent.

There is an immediate reduction of risk of fire on the property.

Smoke-free properties are cheaper to maintain.

The same anti-tobacco groups have offered to provide sample disclosure statements for landlords to use. The Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition has offered to reimburse landlords up to $500 for the cost of advertising a smoke-free building if they use the international no smoking logo or the phrase “No Smoking Allowed” in apartment rental ads.

This law comes on the heels of a number of important court cases, including several that have held that because second-hand smoke is known to cause illness and disease, including cancer, landlords can be held liable if a tenant gets sick due to second-hand smoke. Landlords can also be held liable for damage and injury due to smoke or fire.

Additionally, the New York Supreme Court has held recently that smoking is not a right and therefore smokers cannot sue for discrimination if a landlord goes smokeless. That opinion, coupled with the new rules, makes it clear that it is not against the law for a landlord to ban smoking and to refuse to rent to applicants who do not agree to abide by the policy. However, the new rules make it clear that tenants must be notified of the smoking ban at lease-signing or before.

Oregon has passed similar legislation.

See our feature, Battle for Smoke-Free Apartments Heats Up.

American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for landlords related to your commercial housing investment, including real estate forms, tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.

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Post Your comment (7 Comments)

Win says:
May 25, 2010 at 7:39 am

Is the law in effect in CT as well or only in NY?
Kim says:
May 25, 2010 at 9:57 am

The disclosure rule is specific to Buffalo, however, the court cases regarding landlord liability for second-hand smoke are showing up around the country – and the statistics regarding the high demand for nonsmoking rentals are national.
CALROB Realty says:
May 25, 2010 at 1:25 pm

My leases here in PA have had a smoking clause in a lease addendum for over 3 years, not only stating that the rental unit and the entire property is a NO SMOKING property (excluding tenant’s right to smoke in their own cars on the parking lot, but not allowed to discard those nasty butts on the grounds), but also that landlord has no liability to the contract tenant whatsoever for negative living, property damage, or health issues resulting from other occupants of the complex smoking in their units or on the grounds and in no event shall the smoking actions of others be grounds under the lease for the contract tenant to terminate the lease.
alden okie says:
May 25, 2010 at 11:32 pm

The nonsmoking law is a good idea to protect the landowner. thanks for the info.
Diane says:
May 26, 2010 at 4:22 pm

I think this crazy. I am a smoker and when I go to rent a home now I will have to disclose wether I smoke or not. Where are my privacy laws? Do i not have any privacy to my life any more at all?? What are landlords? Insurance companys now too??
Top 50 Rental Law Blogs and Articles | RentersInsurance.org says:
June 29, 2010 at 8:44 pm

[...] New Law - A new law is in place that landlords must define whether smoking is allowed on the property. [...]
Landlord Quick Tip | American Apartment Owners Association says:
November 9, 2010 at 2:59 pm

[...] A nonsmoking policy reduces risks of fire. For more on nonsmoking policies, see our post Landlords Applaud City’s New Rental Law. See last week’s Landlord Quick Tip. American Apartment Owners Association offers [...]

Landlords Applaud City’s New Rental Law

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