It is not uncommon to see landlords and flatmates who are interested in sharing to state that they would prefer non smokers to share the room or flat that is for rent. Just take this recent advert that was placed on a popular flat-share site where someone called Gregory is looking for a flatmate – “Flatmate wanted for short or long term basis for $180 per week. The large upstairs room is fully furnished and is North facing. It is about 5 to 10 minutes wall from the nearest bus stop and within walking distance of some of the more popular hang outs. I would prefer a non smoking female who is looking for a nice chilled atmosphere, to share with me. The place is available as from the 1st of November 2012.”
Just look at this listing where a flatmate is needed in Victoria Park, Perth as advertised by the landlord. The advert went live at the beginning of October 2012, where the room that is up for grabs is situated in the South East region of Victoria Park. The ad reads – “Furnished room with own fridge, TV, DVD player, double bed within a new flat/apartment and only 5 minutes away from the Vic Park station. I would prefer a non smoker to share this very large room with.”
Why The Fuss About Smokers Renting Shared Accommodation
You just wonder if this kind of discrimination against smokers are allowed. Some seem to think that the landlord or flatmate who is looking to share their accommodation have all the right in the world to discriminate against smokers. There are no discrimination laws that protect smokers and it is a known fact that smoking inside the apartment will cause damage to the property, and may even make it unpleasant for the next person who is looking to share the same flat or apartment in the future.
What happens when a flatmate or landlord discovers that the person they took in said that they are a non smoker and it turns out that the person concerned gets caught smoking on the premises?
Apparently it is within the right of the landlord or flatmate to get the person who smoked to replace carpets, ducts or vents, and even pay for repainting the surface that got damaged if need be. It also serves as ground for evicting the person who smoked.
Smokers Find It Harder To Find Shared Accommodation
It is a known fact that smokers are finding it harder to find shared accommodation in Australia as well as other parts of the world. Out of desperation many a flatmate lie about their habit so they can get a place to stay. This is because the number of landlords or flatmates that will allow smokers in their flat has decreased substantially. Only one fifth of tenants living in shared flats are prepared to share their space with a smoker. A smoker therefore has a very slim chance to secure shared accommodation , which may require of them to consider kicking the smoking habit if they want a half a chance of living in shared accommodation Australia.




