San Diego, CA — August 2025 — The Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment, a partnership between SAY San Diego and San Diego State University, has released a new report, California Renters and Landlords Support Disclosure of Tobacco Smoke Residue. The findings reveal a broad consensus among both renters and landlords in favor of requiring disclosure of toxic tobacco smoke residue in rental housing.
Click here to read our new report with English and Spanish infographics.
Tobacco smoke residue, also called thirdhand smoke, consists of toxic chemicals that can embed into flooring, walls, and insulation and re-emit into the air for years after smoking has stopped. Professional cleaning methods cannot fully remove the residue, and remediation often requires costly renovation. In multiunit housing, the risk of exposure to second- and thirdhand smoke is higher than single single-family homes due to various factors such as high turnover rates and communal air ducts.
Despite these risks, landlords in California are not required to disclose tobacco smoke residue or the smoking history of units in lease agreements. Survey results show that:
- 90% of California renters and 88% of landlords want disclosure when renting a unit.
- 83% of renters and 80% of landlords agree that disclosure should be legally required.
The report calls attention to the need for stronger disclosure requirements to increase transparency and help renters make a more informed decision when choosing a new home. Smokefree multiunit
Contact:
Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment
Dr. Georg Matt