Bengaluru: How shoe racks and flower pots are raising tensions among apartment owners in India’s IT capital

Debates over shoe racks and flower pots placed outside flat doors are causing disputes in apartment complexes across the Bengaluru. Residents cite culture and convenience for keeping such items in shared spaces, but many apartment associations consider them safety hazards and violations of common area rules. These differences have led to verbal arguments, legal notices, and fines in several residential communities, a TOI report stated.

A clash between personal habits and housing rules

In many apartments, residents say placing shoe racks outside helps maintain hygiene at home, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, housing associations argue that common areas must remain clear to avoid any safety issues.

A resident told TOI, "We cannot allow our helps or drivers to walk inside the house with their footwear, especially in the backdrop of Covid threat."

Still, apartment associations cite the need to keep emergency exits and infrastructure clear. The presence of these racks, flower pots, and similar objects is seen by some as obstructive and potentially unsafe.

Resident voices and association responses

Atul Srivastava, a committee member at Krishvi Wisteria Apartments in Whitefield, said: "We grew up with the practice of leaving footwear outside the house to avoid bringing in dust, dirt, and germs. But in apartment living, the space outside one's flat is shared. Keeping shoe racks or footwear outside should be allowed as long as they do not obstruct access to safety infrastructure like fire extinguishers and water hydrants. Instead of a blanket ban, it can be solved with talk on both sides."

A 23-year-old resident of Vasundara Nest Vasantapura Apartments on Kanakapura Road shared a similar view. "In the beginning, we weren't allowed to keep anything in the common areas—not even safety gates. It felt restrictive for a long time. Though technically still not allowed, many of us keep our shoe racks outside. The rules have relaxed a bit after a lot of arguments, but apartment living still comes with too many unnecessary restrictions. It doesn't feel like we truly own our space. I think it's unnecessary to ask people to keep racks inside. It's still an issue sometimes—if anything is left out, we're expected to move it back immediately because it annoys others."

Legal action and policy confusion

In JP Nagar 6th Phase, the HM Tambourine Apartments recently witnessed legal backlash. A group of residents issued a legal notice to the association after it ordered the removal of all shoe racks from outside the flats. According to the notice, accessed by TOI, the residents claimed that the racks had caused no obstruction or complaints for years. They opposed the association's fine of ₹100 per day, calling it unlawful and a form of harassment.

Some housing associations say they are unsure of how to deal with such complaints. A member of a Brigade apartment association in Whitefield said: "We have been receiving mixed requests from people for more than a year. We are also not sure how to approach this issue. Some placed racks outside where we make them remove it from time to time without imposing any fine. No law clearly says how to handle the issue."

Balancing safety with community demands

At Rohan Vasantha Apartments in Marathahalli, which houses 579 flats, the management has set specific rules. Prabhu Patil, president of the apartment association, said: "To meet the residents' wishes and keep the safety norms in check, we have prohibited permanent structures outside the flats. These installations—like built-in racks or metallic frames—could obstruct access in case of emergencies, and we simply can't allow that. Movable shoe racks are fine. We usually issue a warning first, and only if the resident doesn't comply do we impose a Rs 1,000 fine. So far, around six to seven residents have been fined who went ahead with permanent fixtures. In a few cases, we even had to remove those structures."

As apartment living continues to grow in Indian cities, the debate over personal space versus community rules is likely to persist. With no clear legal direction, most associations and residents are left to resolve these disputes on their own.