The City of Buffalo, working with the Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition passed a Landlord Disclosure Law, as part of the Rental Dwelling Unit Registration (Chapter 264, Section 264-11). This is the first law of this type to be passed not only in New York State, but also on the east coast. Since 2007 the Coalition has joined advocates across the country to educate landlords about the many values related to smoke free housing. To date, landlords have adopted 100% smoke-free policies in more than 90 multi-unit dwellings in Erie and Niagara County.

The Landlord Disclosure Law:

• Requires owners and/or managers to disclose to tenants whether smoking is restricted or allowed within rental units and common areas
• Informs smokers on whether or not the behavior is permitted
• Allow non smokers (80% of Buffalo residents) to have the opportunity to decline to live in an environment where they would be routinely exposed to secondhand smoke
• Supports the New York State Real Property Law which states that every tenant has the right to be free of “dangerous, hazardous or detrimental” conditions
• Offers a standardized method to inform concerned renters of possible exposure to secondhand smoke in their most important environment
• Educates landlords on the opportunity of creating a smoke free building – a change that both HUD and the National Apartment Association have endorsed

Landlord Tools:

• Landlord Letter
• Informational Postcard
• Q&A for Landlords
• Copy of Law
• Disclosure Form
• No-Smoking Addendum
• Sample Lease with No-Smoking Policy