More Property Managers Begin Instituting Smoke-Free Policies

Health groups say they’re making headway in convincing Wisconsin landlords that smoke free policies are good for business and promote good health.

Since 2012, the Tobacco Free Columbia-Dane County Coalition has convinced owners of 17 properties in the Madison area to adopt smoke-free policies, joining 200 others who already ban smoking in Dane County.

Erica Koch, director of property management with T. Wall Enterprises, said that in one of the developer’s newly opened Madison apartments, renters can smoke outside but not inside. She said that apartments vacated by smokers often need new paint, carpeting and cleaning of air ventilation ducts. But the biggest and most dangerous concern is that of a fire.

“I have seen firsthand several apartments literally destroyed by smoke,” said Koch.

Bev Jambois, an attorney who has drawn up apartment leases, is a co-chair of the Coalition. She said landlords are often uncertain whether they legally can prevent people from smoking in their rental units.

“Often landlords, that’s their question,” she said. “They didn’t realize they can institute these policies. Somehow they think there’s some kind of constitutional right to smoke.”

Landlords also worry about losing potential renters who smoke, said Nina Gregerson of Madison & Dane County Public Health.

“That does come up. Surprisingly, vacancy rates are not affected by the implementation of smoke-free policies. So we share that with property owners and managers,” said Gregerson.

The Coalition urges property owners to enforce no smoking policies with warnings, fines or even terminating a lease.

The Coalition is part of a statewide effort called Clear Gains, Wisconsin’s smoke-free housing initiative. Since 2012, 61 rental properties statewide have adopted no-smoking policies.