Section Title

Smokefree Multi-Unit Housing

Why Smoke-Free Housing?
If you are a multiunit housing property owner and manager, it is important to understand the many benefits of having smoke-free properties.

Buildings may be able to attract more tenants by going smoke-free. Research shows that renters want smoke-free housing and are often willing to pay higher rent and make other sacrifices, such as walking farther to a bus stop or driving farther to work, to live in a smoke-free building. Other benefits include:

  • Reduced Costs: Cleaning costs are lower when you don’t have to scrub, paint, and replace items in an apartment that smells like smoke or is covered in residue.
  • Fewer Fire Risks: Smoking-related fires are deadly and costly. By going smoke-free, you eliminate the source of smoking-related fires. Some insurance companies may even provide reduced premium rates to buildings that are smoke-free or to tenants who live in a smoke-free building. 
  • Smoke-free Policies Are Legal: A building owner/manager can legally make a rental building (or entire property) completely smoke-free.
  • Protection From Secondhand Smoke: All tenants, guests, and staff members are protected from the serious health dangers associated with secondhand smoke exposure.
  • Less Vacancy: List your property in the Apartment Guide and on community websites, as many renters want to live in smoke-free facilities.
(Data courtesy of the National
Center of Healthy Housing.)
Non-
Smoking
Light
Smoking
Heavy
Smoking

Maintenance Costs
(Source: National Center of Healthy Housing)

General Cleaning $240 $500 $720
Paint $170 $225 $480
Flooring $50 $950 $1,425
Appliances $60 $75 $490
Bathroom $40 $60 $400
Total $560 $1,810

$3,515

Resources for Smoke-free Housing

Videotaped Presentations from the 2019 Breath of Fresh Air Summit 

A workshop titled Smoking and Beyond: What It Really Cost$ You was held in February 2019 for multiunit property owners and managers, as well as anyone holding a South Dakota real estate license. Topics covered the legalities of smoke-free housing and how to create smoke-free, safe, and healthy properties. Each segment of the workshop was recorded and are available to view by clicking on the links below. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to email livewell@siouxfalls.org, or you can reach the Sioux Falls SET-Free Tobacco Coalition at (605) 371-1000.

 

Other Resources