Buffalo landlords get new smoking rules

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The city of Buffalo is ordering all landlords to come clean about smoking.

We all know that smoking is not good for our health. Now, the city of Buffalo has a new law to help renters to know whether smoking is allowed in their rental units.

The Erie-Niagara Tobacco Free Coalition held a news conference at the Belmont Housing Resources for Western New York. The new law calls on landlords to describe in their lease whether smoking is permitted in the apartments and common grounds. This law, sponsored by Councilmember Bonnie Russell, is the first of its kind in New York State.

Russell explained, "I'm sure that smokers will understand that this is not an attack toward smokers. What I think we're trying to do with the coalition and all the partners involved is to try to make awareness to people to slowly let them know for years and years research has shown that smoking is not beneficial to anyone."

Doug Carpenter of the Belmont Resource Center said, "Smokers will know whether smoking is allowed in their apartments and non-smokers will know before they sign a lease if they're renting a space where they'll be exposed to secondhand smoke."

The new law calls for the smoking policy to be clearly stated in the lease. Any disputes between landlords and renters will be settled in Buffalo Housing Court.