Almost half of UK landlords are unlikely to rent to smokers with smoking viewed more negatively than vaping in the private rented sector according to research from nicotine pouch brand Northerner.
The survey found that 49% of landlords would be unlikely to rent to smokers, including 31% who said they would be “very unlikely” to do so. In comparison, 39% said they would be unlikely to rent to vapers.
The findings suggest landlords increasingly view vaping as a lower-risk or more manageable alternative to smoking when it comes to property management and maintenance issues.
According to the research, landlords reported slightly fewer problems linked to vaping than smoking, despite similar average incident levels overall. More than half of landlords (52%) said they had experienced no vaping-related issues over the past year, compared with 46% who reported no smoking-related issues.
TOUGH ACTION
Where problems did arise, landlords were more likely to take tougher action against smoking-related breaches. More than one in five landlords (22%) who dealt with smoking-related issues said they had evicted a tenant, while 25% had issued fines or penalties.
The research also found that smoking-related issues continue to carry a financial impact for landlords. On average, smoking cost landlords £107 per property each year through cleaning, repairs and deodorising costs, compared with £102 linked to vaping.
A small number of landlords also reported significantly higher costs associated with smoking, with 2% saying smoking-related damage and cleaning exceeded £500 annually per property.
LINGERING ODOUR
Dr Marina Murphy, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at Northerner, says: “Competition for rental properties is always fierce, so anything that strengthens an applicant’s position can make a difference.
“While there is currently no UK-wide ban on tenants smoking in rented homes, landlords and letting agents can set their own policies.
“The key, however, is to ensure these are clearly set out from the start, whether that’s a full ban on indoor smoking, or smoking is limited to outdoor spaces, or there are clearly defined charges for cleaning or repairs. These rules are typically enforceable through tenancy agreements.”
FLEXIBLE OPTIONS
“Many landlords view vaping as a more practical and property-friendly alternative to smoking.
“Clear tenancy expectations can help ensure both landlords and tenants are aligned, while the growing range of smoke-free alternatives – including vaping and nicotine pouches – gives adult nicotine users more flexible options to suit different preferences, without the smoke and the associated issues of lingering odour, staining, and residue often linked to combustion-based products.”
