Since 2006, Thousands More Portland Area Apartments Become Smokefree

A recent Portland/Vancouver renter survey conducted by the Smokefree Housing Project projects that the number of rental units covered by a no-smoking policy increased by 13,000 rental units from 2006 to 2009. A total of 22% of tenants surveyed reported that smoking inside their units was prohibited. Among other things the study found:

• 76% of renters say they rarely or never experience secondhand smoke in their homes, up from 70% in 2006
• 75% of all metro-area renters prefer a smokefree environment 
• 50% reported they would choose a rental community with a no-smoking rule even if they had to pay more or compromise on things like location
• The 2009 study reconfirmed findings from 2006 - renters with incomes of less than $35,000 were just as likely as those with higher incomes to reject the idea of living next door to tenants who do smoke

Effective January 1, 2010 a new law in Oregon will require landlords to disclose their smoking policy to tenants in rental agreements.

Information on smokefree housing is available from http://www.smokefreehousingnw.com/, a partnership between the American Lung Association in Oregon and the health departments of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark Counties.