News
September 3, 2025Tri City Rentals Completes Transition to 100% Smoke-Free Apartments
Tri City Rentals, a leading locally-owned apartment management company serving the Capital Region, announced today the successful completion of its transition to a fully smoke-free portfolio. As of September 1, 2025, all Tri City Rentals apartments in the Capital Region are officially 100% smoke-free, including individual units and a 50-foot perimeter around all buildings. This policy prohibits all smoking materials and vaping, ensuring healthier living environments for all residents.
The company first announced the initiative in May 2024, beginning a phased rollout in which all renewing and new leases incorporated the smoke-free policy. Over the past year, Tri City Rentals worked closely with residents to provide clear communication, support resources, and ample transition time before the policy took full effect.
The move addresses well-documented public health concerns. According to the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE), up to 65% of the air in a multi-unit apartment can come from other units, allowing secondhand smoke to travel freely between homes. Secondhand smoke exposure is particularly harmful to children, individuals with asthma, and those with other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. ASHRAE emphasizes that “the only means of avoiding health effects and eliminating indoor environmental tobacco smoke exposure is to ban all smoking activity inside and near buildings.”
“Everyone deserves to breathe smoke-free air in their homes — not just those who own their own homes, but all people, including those renting in multi-unit buildings,” said Jeanie Orr, Director of Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities. “We applaud Tri City Rentals for taking this important step to provide a healthier, safer living environment for their residents.”
Julie Massry Knox, Director of Marketing at Tri City Rentals, added: “This change represents more than just a policy shift — it’s a commitment to the well-being of our residents and our employees. By creating smoke-free living spaces, we are helping to protect the health of everyone who calls a Tri City Rentals apartment community home, while also ensuring our cleaner, safer environments and our ongoing dedication to quality living.
Tri City Rentals’ smoke-free policy aligns with a growing national movement among property owners and managers who recognize the health, environmental, and operational benefits of smoke-free housing. In addition to protecting residents from secondhand smoke, the policy will help reduce maintenance costs, lower fire risks, and enhance the overall appeal of its communities.
