Ban smoking inside Council owned properties

[Rico]

I'm a landlord. Just a little flat but a landlord. I do not allow smoking as part of the tenancy agreement. It ruins the furnishings and is a devil to get out if tenants change.

I, along with all of you, also own massive Council Estate properties all over Southwark. I'd like to suggest that we, as landlords, ban smoking inside our properties.

If those living there want to smoke than can a) go outside b) move to a rental where the landlord chooses to allow smoking.

Sounds reasonable.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Bonkers. (polite version)

[Jah Lush]

Health facist.

[Keef]

What PGC & Jah said!

[giggirl]

You couldn't police it so what would be the point?

[Brendan]

We could also use the schools to brainwash their children into grassing them up to the thought police if they start getting ideas above their station or asking the wrong questions about the status quo.

[giggirl]

"If there is hope... it lies in the proles."

[HonaloochieB]

I'd like to be the first to disagree with all of the people who have replied Rico.

But I can't. First there was Rackmanism but now you've brought us right up to date with Rothmanism.

[david_carnell]

You're effectively banning the poor from smoking inside their homes till they can afford to rent or buy privately.

Bonkers indeed.

[SimonM]

Council flats are rented UNfurnished anyway.....

[Rico]

Interesting bit about schools - should we allow smoking inside them? What's the difference?

So perhaps all of you if landlords wouldn't have an issue with your renters smoking inside. Fair enough. But shouldn't we as collective owners of Council flats have a say?

And if you argue they have few choices to afford living elsewhere - then great - think of the money they'll save not smoking and can more quickly get on their feet and move on. Isn't that the point of council housing: a short term fix to allow folks to get on their feet again and move on?

[*Bob*]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> You're effectively banning the poor from smoking

> inside their homes till they can afford to rent or

> buy privately.

It will help them start saving-up.

I love that way that a number of fag brands attempt to sound loosley associated with the blue-blooded classes (Rothmans, Superkings, Royals). The Proles must lap that sort-of thing up.

[Brendan]

I propose that anyone who can?t afford to buy their own home should be visited nightly by a policeman just to make sure they are behaving themselves.

[lozzyloz]

Rico, as a private landlord, do you have a clause in the lease insisting that your tenants refrain from sex beyond the bedrooms in case they stain the carpet, wallpaper or sofa?

[*Bob*]

Good point, Lozzy.

And if sex was banned that would cut-down on the urge to smoke as well.

[Rico]

No but if, for whatever reasons, they damage said property, they must pay to repair/clean it (if they didn't clean it themselves). Is that not reasonable?

Are you all suggesting that landlords should not be able to stipulate whether smoking is allowed when drawing up a lease agreement?

[Brendan]

Sex! Bloody hell I don?t think we should allow it at all.

Not unsupervised anyway.

[cdonline]

Have a ciggie and chill out.

I have one of those rental agreements that tells me I can't smoke. He also tells me that I responsible for the drains and lots of other things I couldn't give a hoot for. In my mind, as long as I open the windows, there's not really a problem. We are in a financial arrangement, he's not my lifestyle coach.

Do you spend much time in Council properties? If people want to light up, scratch their arse or lots of other unmentionables. All in the comfort of their home, none of my business.

[david_carnell]

Rico Wrote:

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> And if you argue they have few choices to afford

> living elsewhere - then great - think of the money

> they'll save not smoking and can more quickly get

> on their feet and move on. Isn't that the point

> of council housing: a short term fix to allow

> folks to get on their feet again and move on?

Mmm, and if only we banned them from drinking alcohol or even soft drinks as well and only let them have tap water, think how much that could save. Oh, and if they only ate lentils and pasta too. No fresh veg or meat - waste of money. Then they could gratefully join the rest of us in the delight that is the home-owning democracy. Hurrah!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Bagsy sex monitor.

GigGirl, surely you meant:

"If there is hope... it lies in the profiteroles"

[Rico]

They don't have to buy a home. Renting is fine. But subsidised renting thanks to my Council tax means I should have a say...or maybe not. Silly. They can wreck the place and stay for generations (like that would ever happen).

[SimonM]

But if a would-be tenant does voluntarily sign a rental agreement which includes a no smoking clause then it is the landlord's business. If you don't like it then choose another flat.

[giggirl]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Bagsy sex monitor.

>

> GigGirl, surely you meant:

>

> "If there is hope... it lies in the profiteroles"

But PGC - these are proles with tenants extra and beer bellies and fags. You wanna watchem get jiggy with it? Surely not. They live in council houses and must be punished.

[*Bob*]

I'm happy for them to merrily smoke themselves to death if they live in a shithole in Mitcham with smashed windows and have to listen to drum and bass through poorly insulated walls all night.

But I do get angry when I see them smoking away in council-owned properties which are in parts of London I can't afford to live in myself. That just doesn't seem right.

[Brendan]

Rico Wrote:

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> They don't have to buy a home. Renting is fine.

> But subsidised renting thanks to my Council tax

> means I should have a say...or maybe not. Silly.

> They can wreck the place and stay for generations

> (like that would ever happen).

Yeah let?s get them out of council flats and into somewhere where they have no security of tenure and their money can be properly contributing to the second incomes of private landlords.

*Bob* Wrote:

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> But I do get angry when I see them smoking away in

> council-owned properties which are in parts of

> London I can't afford to live in myself. That just

> doesn't seem right.

I know what you mean. The people who clean the restaurants, and homes, cook the food and clean the streets in those areas should live at 30 miles away.

Don?t know they?re born.