Have you ever been looking for a new rental property, but were concerned about whether or not the previous tenants smoked int he home? Or, perhaps you have been the owner of a rental property with tenants who were smokers. Rental owners may often have been told by tenants that they cannot prohibit smoking in rental units because the tenant is the one paying the rent. However, a new law in California shores up a landlord’s right to prohibit smoking in rental units, giving landlords legal standing when in conflict with tenants.

Previously, there had been no laws in California that specifically stated a landlord’s right to prohibit smoking in apartments or rental units they owned and/or manage, but now it has been put into law. The law has come into effect after research conducted in California’s Imperial County showed renters largely preferred smoke free environments. Ninety-five percent Continue Reading

In the past, we've discussed California's proactive regulations as well as a disagreement stemming from smokers residing in multifamily units including townhouses and apartments. This new law, effective January 1, 2012, should come as no surprise.

California Senate Bill 332 was signed into law on September 6, 2011 by Governor Jerry Brown. The law now requires landlords to state in lease agreements where smoking is permitted on property. Some upscale units have imposed smoking restrictions in-unit for the greater part of a decade with few legal issues arising. This bill will further allow landlords to take affirmative action in deciding if and where tenants can smoke.

With multifamily housing accounting for more than 30 percent of California's residences, Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat - Los Angeles, believes this provides landlords "on solid legal ground if they choose to have those restrictions." Padilla went on further to state, "While more than 86 percent of Californians do not Continue Reading

New study finds that African-American, low-income children at highest risk.

A study published by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research states, "Despite having the second-lowest smoking rate in the nation, California is still home to nearly 2.5 million children under the age of 12 who are exposed to secondhand smoke." The study estimates that over 500,000 children are directly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home with another 1.9 million are at-risk due to living in a home where another family member is a smoker, though smoking may not be allowed inside the home.

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at greater risk of developing asthma, respiratory infections, or death (via SIDS in infants). It is also important to note that children raised by smokers have a greater probability of becoming smokers themselves.

Some of the findings from the study include: Continue Reading

California is one of two states to reach the Healthy People 2020 target smoking rate of adults at under 12 percent! Healthy People 2020 “provides science-based ten-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans.”

In 2009, California residents who smoked comprised 13.1 percent of the population. In 2010, that figure dropped to 11.9 percent. Smoking declined in groups across the spectrum including men, women, and a wide array of ages.
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