University of Southern California Launches Major Smoke-Free Study

Seeking Input From Multifamily Rental Property Owners, Managers, and Residents from Los Angeles County’s Unincorporated Areas

• Funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Health, USC Study Seeks Residential Landlord and Manager Input on Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Policies, and Impacts on Multifamily Residents Particularly During COVID-19

• Free $25 Gift Card Being Offered to Survey Participants and Chance to Receive Free Membership in Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles

A major new smoke-free study was recently launched by the University of Southern California to seek the input of residential landlords and managers within Los Angeles County’s unincorporated areas.  The USC smoke-free study was launched on March 1, 2021 in collaboration with the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. Funding for the USC smoke-free study is being provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health.

The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that there are no safe levels of secondhand smoke. Within multifamily properties, smoke-free policies that prohibit smoking and vaping can protect the health of all residents from exposure to secondhand smoke and help to save thousands of dollars in maintenance costs for owners. Unfortunately, today many residents living at multifamily properties in the County of Los Angeles are without protections from secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure.

The County of Los Angeles is seeking to better understand the effects of secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure at multifamily properties, particularly under increased smoking during COVID-19 “stay-at-home” orders.  

Daniel Yukelson, Executive Director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, stated: “I want to encourage each of our members to participate in this important new survey.  It is imperative that all rental property owners and managers provide input through this survey to assist with the County’s efforts to better understand the implications of smoke-free policies on multifamily properties.”

Given the negative impact of secondhand smoke exposure and COVID-19, the USC study seeks to explore perceptions of secondhand smoke exposure since the pandemic began, and beliefs regarding such exposure and COVID-19 on health among landlords or property managers and their residents. Through the input being provided in the USC study, survey participants will have the opportunity to share their opinions that will help inform the County regarding how secondhand smoke is impacting tenants that live in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles and will give them insights as to how property owners and managers feel about the issue. 

More About the Survey.  The USC survey will take only 15 minutes or less to complete. In order to participate, survey respondents must be at least 21 years old, and must either own or manage a multifamily residential rental property only within one of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. In completing the USC survey, landlords and managers will be asked for their opinions and to comment upon smoke-free and vape-free policies, their potential impacts at multifamily properties and upon residents, and specific opinions about tobacco and  cannabis (marijuana) smoke, and E-cigarettes.  For their time in taking the brief survey, participants will receive a free, $25 gift card to one of four merchants of their choice and will be entered into a drawing to receive a free, one-year membership in the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (or up to a $200 credit towards membership renewal if an existing member). Survey participation is, of course, voluntary as is accepting of the gift card or entering the drawing for membership. The survey is being collected online or via phone and may be completed by respondents at anytime while the survey period remains open until June 30, 2021.  ALL INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

To complete the survey, go to https://tinyurl.com/aptlandlord, scan the Q-R code shown below or call (323) 442-8210. For questions about the survey, please call Yaneth Rodriguez at (323) 442-8210 or email study.apt@usc.edu.