My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California
I live in the Bay Area, and am 4 months into a 12 month lease with a large corporate/national rental and property management company (Essex Prop. Management). I'm considering breaking my lease this month or next month, as a result of my chain-smoking neighbours.
This complex has a firm no-smoking policy, yet my immediate neighbours smoke inside their unit, in the halls, and on the patio. I have a long history with asthma, and the smell and smoke are making life kindof difficult for me, and I can get medical documentation to confirm this. The neighbours have been fined and notified before about the smoking, but aren't going to stop anytime soon. They're also loud and have frequent parties.
Do smoking neighbours in a non-smoking building constitute ground for breaking a lease without too much of a penalty? Does cigarette smoke count as a "noxious fume" in California? Will I need a lawyer to pursue this further or will a written complaint and doctor's letter suffice?

