What happens when a smoker does not want to stop smoking, but whose adjacent neighbor is a non-smoker with a health condition? Let’s say the health condition worsens with exposure to second-hand smoke. Let’s also say they live in a strata complex.
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal recently considered such a scenario in Bowker v. Strata Plan NWS 2539.
A woman, Ms. Bowker, and her husband viewed a residential unit within a complex owned by a Strata. They purchased it. When they viewed the unit before purchasing it, it was smoke-free.
Being smoke free was important to Ms. Bowker, because she has pulmonary fibrosis. This is a lung disease. The symptoms are primarily coughing and an increasing shortness of breath. The symptoms are worsened by exposure to fumes and toxins or chemicals in the air, including cigarette smoke.
Before the Bowkers moved in, the unit directly below theirs was purchased by another person [LR] and her husband, both of whom were regular smokers.
Upon taking possession of her new home, Ms. Bowker was “horrified” to find that it smelled heavily of cigarette smoke. It soon became apparent the smoke was coming from the downstairs unit. Ms. Bowker began opening the patio doors even though it was late November, and purchased large fans to try to blow the smoke outside. She also bought two air purifiers. These measures were largely ineffective.
When she contacted the Strata council president, she was told to speak with the lower residents. She did so, but LR only became defensive. The smoking continued.
Ms. Bowker wrote letters to the Strata council, provided a note from her physician regarding her medical condition which required a smoke-free environment, and asked that the Strata invoke its nuisance bylaw. That bylaw prohibited strata owners from using their strata lot in a way which caused a nuisance to another person. All Ms. Bowker wanted was for LR to stop smoking in the unit.
About one year after Ms. Bowker had first expressed concerns, the Strata started taking some steps to minimize the smoke’s impact on Ms. Bowker’s unit. It tried to seal the units, provided air purifiers, paid for an ozone treatment, and undertook an air quality assessment. These efforts were largely to no avail.
The council also put a nonsmoking bylaw to a membership vote. However, the requisite 75% majority was not obtained. So, the vote failed twice, although on one occasion was within 10 votes of passing. By the time the third AGM rolled around, the Strata council president was not interested in putting it forward again.
For more than a full year, the Strata council failed to raise the nuisance bylaw with LR.
Ms. Bowker submitted a complaint under the B.C. Human Rights Code (the Code). It was only after this that it finally raised the nuisance issue with LR. LR then asserted that nicotine addiction is a physical disability under the Code.
Ms. Bowker’s lung condition worsened. She became in need of supplementary oxygen. Until September 2017, she had to carry oxygen tanks around with her wherever she went.
In September, 2017, 22 months after Ms. Bowker first raised concerns, the Strata council finally sent a cease and desist letter to LR. It stated that if the smoking in the unit did not stop within 2 weeks, the strata would commence an action.
Also in September, 2017, LR’s husband died. The smoke exposure Ms. Bowker experienced fell to a 1/10, from a previous 10/10.
LR continued to smoke in her apartment. An action was commenced against LR. A decision in that matter had not yet been rendered.
Ms. Bowker continued to be subjected to second hand smoke. She was impacted by this in ways that included increased coughing, dyspnea and nausea, loss of sleep, and not being able to be in certain rooms of her unit. She also had to keep the patio doors fully open and fans or air purifiers on high, despite noise or severe temperatures outside. She was unable to have certain family members stay over because of their own sensitivity to smoke. Understandably, she also experienced significant stress about the situation.
Next week, we will look at the Tribunal decision: “You Would Cry Too if it Happened To You” – Smoking in Condos Part 2
This is a modified version of an article that is appearing in the Kelowna Daily Courier, the Kelowna Capital News and other online publications on or about July 12, 2019. The content of this article is intended to provide very general thoughts and general information, not to provide legal advice. Advice from an experienced legal professional should be sought about your specific circumstances. If you would like to reach us, we may be reached at 250-764-7710 or info@inspirelaw.ca.
