Although it varies from property to property, the proportion of tenants in social housing who smoke is much higher than is seen across the population generally. Nationally, compared to around 1 in 10 people who own their home and 1 in 7 in the general adult population, around 1 in 3 people in social housing smoke. Aimee comments that it feels even higher in some of the properties she looks after.
30% seems low to me, because you know, when you walk in a property, you can smell that they're smokers, and that seems to happen more often than not when I go to a property visit.
Aimee acknowledges that there is a lot of extra work required after a smoker moves out of a property before the property is in a fit state for the next tenant. She describes how a deep clean is required, including changing light sockets and pendants to eliminate the effects of smoke and nicotine. Nevertheless, Elaine emphasises that their organisation believes that people have the right to make their own choices, and smoke within their own homes if they wish. She comments that as well as smokers, she sees successful quitters too.
However, Elaine and Aimee both recognise the health impacts that come from smoking. Elaine comments that she sees a lot of tenants suffering from COPD as a result of smoking, and notes how this can impact a resident’s ability to live independently.
I see a lot of people that have given up, but there's a lot of people suffering from COPD around, and we keep a weather eye on the situation to make sure that they are still safe living independently. We are not care staff, but none of us would notice something and let that go under the radar. So, we would contact the agencies that are going to pick up that support.
The issue of smoking can sometimes cause problems amongst tenants. Legally, no smoking is allowed in common or shared areas within properties, but this can present difficulties for tenants who smoke. Additionally, smoke drift can upset non smoking tenants.
Some are angry, because they can't conveniently smoke in corridors or in communal areas. And they get a bit of hassle from the other residents when they smell cigarette smoke in the properties.
Along with health and safety checks, Elaine and Aimee are both responsible for fire safety checks at the properties they look after. They recognise that smoking presents an increased fire risk to property and tenants – both to the tenant who smokes and potentially also to their neighbours. Both Aimee and Elaine can recall having to deal with fires caused by smoking and the devastation that can cause.
Fires can so easily be started by a cigarette if a smoker is careless, has a medical episode or falls asleep whilst smoking. Aimee and Elaine are always looking out for signs of fire risks, such as burns on the furniture or carpets. Where they feel it may be helpful, they call in the Fire Service to help. The Fire Service provides Safe and Well visits for people identified as being at risk. Firefighters will visit people in their homes and offer advice around quitting smoking or smoking more safely, such as outside. They will also ask about use of emollient creams – all of which are flammable – and mobility, which can affect whether and how quickly someone would be able to escape from a fire.
The Fire Service will assess the situation. For example, if someone has a specific cream that they wear, they’ll look to see if it's flammable. And if it is, they'll give the tenant flame retardant bedding, things like that. So that if someone was to fall asleep in bed with a cigarette lit, it would reduce the risks, but of course there is still a risk there.
What would you say to a smoker who is thinking fo quitting
I would say, go for it, because it will improve your health. It will improve your outlook on life. It will save you money, and you can do other things. I would be looking for the positives for them, you know, because it is an addiction.
And my other thing is, if you can't stop all at once, if you go back, it's not a problem. You know, if somebody's given up and then had a cigarette, I think it’s about being positive and saying ‘Well, you can try again’. It's about being positive in your approach, and not making people feel guilty. [Elaine]