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MARKET DEMAND

Is there a market for non-smoking housing?

Non-smoking housing is an exciting market opportunity for landlords. In the summer of 2006, we conducted a Market Survey (PDF) among Portland-Vancouver metro area renters. We found out that three-quarters of renters would rather live in a non-smoking building, but only a quarter of buildings have a no-smoking rule. Over half of renters would even pay extra rent to live in a non-smoking building.

Many landlords say that a no-smoking rule helps them attract and keep tenants who take better care of their units. How often do you get an opportunity to make money while doing something good for the health of your community?

Key points from the market survey

“We had an entire building lease up in just 30 days, because people were calling specifically for non-smoking units.” *

“Taking in the cost, it’s a huge motivator. Showing smoky apartments may lose you a customer. Smoke is not attractive.” *

Renters prefer no-smoking buildings

Three-quarters would rather live in a non-smoking building, "other things being equal."
52% would even pay extra rent to live in a non-smoking building.
42% would feel uncomfortable renting a unit next door to a smoker.
Three-quarters say it's okay for landlords to prohibit smoking inside rental units to keep secondhand smoke from drifting into other units.
Only 26% currently live in a building with a no-smoking rule.
More than a third of renters in multi-unit buildings are regularly exposed to a neighbor's secondhand smoke.

“Non-smoking is another amenity that we offer to attract people.” *

“It seems like most of my tenants are smokers, but they still want non-smoking units.” *

Most renters don't smoke and many smokers smoke outside their units

Three-quarters of renters don't smoke at all.
19% of renters smoke daily—but only 11% of renters smoke inside on a regular basis (7% daily; 4% monthly or more).
Two-thirds of smokers agree that even small amounts of secondhand smoke are hazardous to your health.

* Quotes taken from the report Opinions of Experienced Metro-Area Landlords Regarding Smoking Policies and Practices, Campbell DeLong Resources, Inc., November 2006.