Would you rent to a smoker?

Question

I have a house that I rent out by the room. Right now only one room is rented long term, and one rented on a 3 month lease to a travel nurses. I have interest from people to rent out the other rooms long term.

Someone just applied that wants to rent for 6months  to a year. Obviously it is better to have longer term tenants for stability. He did indicate that he smokes but won’t smoke in the house or at the property. This is a furnished rental- so I’m worried he might smell up the furniture or bed.

Would you all rent to a smoker? How likely is this fact going to cause problems with the other roommates?

I’m new to self management and new to by the room rentals. Thanks for the advice.

Heidi Kenefick · Answer

@John Morgan

Thanks for the advice. I was 1/2 and 1/2 about accepting him or not, but he was up front about it and agreed to smoke outside and not on the property at all. The benefit of accepting him is that he wants a longer lease and the majority of the leads I have had have been dead ends or for only 3 months. I’m still learning so we shall see how this goes.

Eliott Elias · Answer

I would charge a double deposit. Removing smoke smell will cost you thousands of dollars.

Theresa Harris · Answer

If you are renting rooms in a house, no.  The smell of smoke stays on people's clothing even if they smoke outside and is not a pleasant smell to many non-smokers.

Jon Puente · Answer

Hey Heidi,

This is such a great question and I am sure a lot of people wonder about this.

We made a special provision in our long term lease that they can smoke, but not inside the home.  However, I would not let someone rent by the room and smoke.  That causes problems for everyone and will save you hassle down the road.  Take your time and find a tenant who will abide by the rules and take care of your home.

More work upfront, but less work on the backend!

Joe Scaparra · Answer

I agree ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Especially by the room will cause your other renters to leave and prospective renters viewing the property will notice the smell and not tell you but quietly disappear.   If it was a whole house I still would not rent to a smoker.  I have small size units (duplexes) and don't allow smoking in my units or on shared porches.  I also don't have furnished units that allow smoking.   If you do come across a unit smoked in, you can buy an ozone machine on Amazon for about 150 and that will help get rid of the smoke.  You will lose more business by allowing smokers.

Thomas O'Donnell · Answer

I would not. The other tenants may not like the smell of smoke which will follow him into the house. It is also really hard to believe that a smoker is willing to leave the property multiple times a day at different hours to go smoke, especially if the weather is bad. Best to be safe rather than sorry, but also remember that other people live there too and it may affect them. Good luck!

Ying B. · Answer

Absoluetly not allow smokers and I have single family higher price range rentals ($2500-$2800/month). I do not allow smoking inside or outside. This is one rule I do not bend.  It is very costly to remedy the odor if you want to be a responsible LL to the future tenants.

Jack Mawer · Answer

I would say no as well unless you are certain it will not cause issues with the other roommates/the tenant will not smoke inside

Jaron Walling · Answer

@Heidi Kenefick "that he wants a longer lease" - Define longer lease. Smoking or not anything longer than 12 months can be a red flag.

We're finishing screening and about offer a rental lease to someone and haven't found any red flags (knock on wood). I recommend mysmartmove.com for a screening tool if you haven't already completed a background, eviction, and income check.

John Morgan · Answer

@Heidi Kenefick

Half my tenants smoke and I’ve never had a problem. And I have 3 houses I rent by the room and they’ve been great always smoking outside.

Would you rent to a smoker?

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