Cannabis smell from neighbours: what can you do?

You open the bedroom window in the evening and a few minutes later a heavy, sweet smell drifts into the room. Cannabis smell from neighbours is a familiar problem for many people in flats and terraced houses. The smell is strong, distinctive and lingers in curtains, clothes and bedding. In this article, you’ll find out how the smell gets in, how to raise it kindly and what you can do if nothing changes.

Why cannabis smell travels so easily

People who smoke get used to the smell and rarely notice how far it reaches. It usually finds its way in through:

• Open windows and balconies. Smoke rises and drifts into the flat above or next door.

• Shared ventilation ducts. In some blocks, flats share an extract duct. If the system does not work properly, air from one flat can end up in another.

• The stairwell or landing. Smell from a front door or walkway comes in through the gap under your door.

• Gaps around pipes. Openings around pipes and sockets in a shared wall let air through as well.

Do you constantly smell a strong plant smell, even when nobody seems to be smoking? Do not raise that with your neighbour. If you suspect cultivation, report it to the police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Raise it kindly

Your conversation or message is about the smell in your home, not about what your neighbour does in theirs. That makes it much easier to talk about. Assume your neighbour does not know how strongly the smell reaches you, and describe what you notice:

"When someone smokes on the balcony in the evening, the smell comes in through our bedroom window and the children can smell it in their room. I'm not sure whether you're aware of it. Could we look together at what might help?"

Mention one or two moments you experienced yourself and what the effect was. Leave out guesses about how much or how often someone uses; they mainly make people defensive.

What you can ask for or agree

Don't ask for the biggest change first. Small, specific agreements often work best:

• No smoking at an open window or on the balcony on your side, at least at times when your windows are open.

• Windows and doors closed while smoking, so the smell does not drift into the stairwell or next door.

• Smell-free times. For example when the children go to bed or when you hang the washing outside.

• Having the ventilation checked together. If the smell comes through a vent or duct, the landlord or managing agent can check whether the system works properly.

You can seal gaps around your front door, but do not tape over vents; that can be unsafe.

What do the rules say?

Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and possessing or growing it is generally an offence. That side of things is a matter for the police, not for neighbours. The smell itself is a different question. Smoke from premises can in theory be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, but councils rarely treat smoking at home as one. Tenancy agreements and leases often contain terms on nuisance and anti-social behaviour, which a landlord can act on. This article is not legal advice.

Keep a note of what you smell

If the smell keeps coming in, keep a diary for a few weeks. Note the date, time, how long the smell lingered, where it came in and the effect, such as having to close a window or the smell reaching a child's bedroom. Write down what you smelled, not who you think it was. Note periods without smell too, so you can see whether an agreement is working.

In practice

Many people expect the council to step in, but that is often not the case. Great Yarmouth Borough Council, for example, explains that cannabis odour from a home is not normally a statutory nuisance, because smoking at home counts as reasonable use of the property. It refers odour complaints about cannabis to the police and treats the rest as a civil matter (source: Great Yarmouth Borough Council). Other councils may take a different approach, so check with yours. Either way, a calm conversation is usually the quickest route.

If you can't solve it together

• Send a second, clear letter. Refer to your earlier message and mention a few examples from your diary.

• Try community mediation. A neutral mediator can help you reach an agreement together.

• Do you rent or live in a flat? Contact the landlord, housing association or managing agent, especially if the smell comes through ventilation or the stairwell.

• Do you suspect cultivation? Do not contact your neighbour; report it to the police on 101 or to Crimestoppers.

Help with the first message

The CalmNotes pack for cannabis smell from neighbours gives you editable example messages to raise the smell calmly, follow-up messages if nothing changes and a diary to record when you notice it. Find more examples and tips on our page about cannabis smell from neighbours.

Choose a suitable next step

Free incident diary — Record incidents, contact and agreements.

Prepare your records and request for help — Organise your information and prepare a request for help.

Find support — Find out who may be able to help with your situation.