Council tenants could be BANNED from smoking in their homes

A Parliamentary report has now recommended that smoking should be banned in social housing, and tenants instead be given vaping kits.

New social housing developments could be made into smoke-free zones after a report found smoking is now “highly concentrated” on council estates - where it is and twice as common.


The recommendation was made in a report that found smoking is now “highly concentrated” on council estates, where it is and twice as common.


Tenants are also less likely to quit despite trying as often as other smokers, it adds.

The report, by two All Party Parliamentary Groups and charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), suggests new social housing could be designated smoke-free – and suggests offering tenants vaping kits.

It also points out that most private landlords include no-smoking clauses in agreements.

The country's social housing stock has been falling in numbers since the Conservatives started selling off council houses in the 1980s.

It accounted for 17 per cent of households as of 2016/17 according to Government data with 3.9 million homes in England.

Last year the Government blocked a smoking ban in beer gardens after ministers warned it would lead to pub closures.

The proposals to extend the ban to outdoor areas were included in a list of demands by councils and health authorities in London.