Q&As: Smokefree communal areas in private dwellings?

Q. Do communal areas of private dwellings have to go smokefree on 1st July?

The following guidance is taken from the Government's guidance document 'Everything you need to prepare for the new smokefree law on 1st July 2007':

In general, the new law does not cover private dwellings. However, any enclosed or substantially enclosed part of a premises shared with other premises, such as a communal stairwell or lift in a block of flats, will be required to be smokefree if:

• it is open to the public
• it is used as a place of work, for example, by a cleaner, postman or security guard.

Please access the full-text of the guidance here: http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/files/everything_u_need_new_sf_law.pdf

For further information on everything related to going smokefree, including signage, penalties etc. please see the following website: http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/.

There is also a telephone helpline (Smokefree England Information Line) which can help you to interprete the requirements of the regulations: 0800 169 169 7.