Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Smoking Banned In Rental Units, Including Terraces, At All Related Properties
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 14, 2013
Modified Jun 14, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 14, 2013
Modified Jun 14, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
One of the nation's biggest landlords is banning smoking in all 40,000 rental units across America. Starting this month, new tenants at Related Companies' apartments must sign a document promising not to smoke inside their apartments, nor on their private terraces or balconies. Penalties for violators include eviction, and tenants who even dream about smoking a cigarette in their obscenely overpriced apartments better wake up and apologize to Related.
Current tenants are immune to the ban for now, but if they want to renew their leases they too will have to promise not to light up inside or immediately outside their homes. Although it's hard to feel too sorry for anyone lucky enough to have a freaking private terrace, the extension of the ban to an outdoor space does seem a little heavy-handed. Of course, try telling that to the healthy person on the terrace one floor up who has to breathe second-hand smoke while practicing Prana Yoga every morning.
“It’s just mean," smoker Polina Skoch, a resident of Related’s One Union Square South, tells the Times. "I thought it couldn’t get any worse when the city banned smoking in parks." Ha yeah, remember when NYC banned smoking in parks and then nobody ever dared smoke in the parks again? We're guessing this apartment ban will be similarly ignored and difficult to enforce. Alternatively, this seems as good an excuse as any to finally get into snuff.
Tagged
cigarettes
related companies
smoking
smoking ban
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 7:42 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 27, 2026 at 11:14 p.m. ET
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
News
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting
By
Catalina Gonella
Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .