Smoking in my own flat, but smoke is apparently reaching the flat above — how do I handle this?
I live in a high-rise in Mumbai and recently moved into a new apartment on the 12th floor. I smoke, and because I don’t smoke around my parents, I generally smoke in my bathroom. Probably 4–5 cigarettes spread across 24 hours.
Today, my wife happened to meet the owner of the apartment directly above us (13th floor). He asked her whether we’d recently moved in and whether anyone in our apartment smokes. She said no because she wasn’t sure why he was asking.
He then explained that their bathroom has started constantly smelling of cigarette smoke, apparently since we moved in. They also have a disabled child, so understandably they’re concerned about the smoke and its potential impact.
I’m now fairly sure the smoke from my bathroom is somehow travelling through the building’s ventilation/exhaust shaft and reaching their bathroom.
I completely understand their concern and don’t want smoke entering their apartment. At the same time, I’m trying to figure out what my practical options are. I smoke inside my own home, and I don’t really want to start smoking outside the building or in front of my parents.
For people who live in high-rises:
-Has anyone experienced cigarette smoke travelling between apartments through bathroom exhaust/ventilation shafts?
-Is there anything I can do to prevent the smoke from entering the common ventilation duct?
-Would an exhaust fan or air purifier help, or could an exhaust fan actually make it worse?
-Is there some kind of filtration/ventilation setup that could solve this?
-What would be the most reasonable way to handle this with the neighbour without turning it into a building-wide issue?
I’m not looking to argue that I have a “right to smoke” or dismiss their concerns. If my smoking is genuinely causing smoke to enter their bathroom, I’d like to find a practical solution that lets me continue smoking without affecting them.
Would appreciate advice from anyone who’s dealt with something similar in a Mumbai/high-rise apartment.