A September, 2003 Wisconsin State Journal article describes a new smokefree apartment effort being led by a Madisonarea apartment association. The article states: Renters can get help finding smokefree apartments through a list compiled by the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin. The information can be found on the associations Web site. There renters can find a list of property owners, the city where theyre based, phone numbers and the number of smokefree units at a particular property. The list notes 1,277 units in all. The database, which was expanded this year, is only one such effort the association is making toward promoting the availability of smokefree units. Because of the safety concerns involved, the group also is working with insurance companies to offer premium discounts to property owners for insuring smokefree units. Thats a good incentive, said Nancy Jensen, executive director of the association. She said concern about the health of renters is one reason to offer smokefree units as a choice. Then theres three more good reasons, she said. They include liability and risk, maintenance and the apparent demand, since a majority of people dont smoke, she said. The risks are obvious in light of statistics supplied by Ed Ruckriegel, fire marshal in the Madison Fire Department. In the last four years, smokingrelated materials led to 143 fires. In addition to personal injuries, the fires caused two fatalities and an estimated $1.3 million in property damage. Jensen said although potential renters may not ask for smokefree units, they will notice when units have that designation. The association created the database by sending out 2,000 questionnaires to landlords; 320 responses were received. Last year, the group sent out 750 surveys and got back 150 responses, listing a total of 731 smokefree units. The association also has created a lease addendum, which would prohibit smoking and require tenants signatures. The form is available online for association members and nonmembers. In addition, the association wants to encourage landlords to designate smokefree units when they advertise vacancies. You wont see us support a mandatory smokefree apartment rental law, Jensen said. Our goal is to give property owners the information to allow them to make a good business and social choice. For the news article, Click here. The apartment association web site listing of smokefree apartments is no longer online; it has been replaced by the Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition smokefree apartment listing, which can be accessed by clicking here.

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