Bengaluru apartment residents clash with associations over shoe racks restrictions

Many residents argue that placing shoe racks outside their homes helps maintain hygiene indoors, a practice reinforced after the Covid pandemic. (Representational image: Unsplash)

In May, a Bengaluru man made headlines after he reportedly paid Rs 24,000 in fines to his housing society for keeping his shoe rack in the common area for eight months. The resident of Prestige Sunrise Park residential complex in Electronic City even paid his fine in advance for future months to continue keeping the shoe rack outside his home.

The incident, however, highlighted a trend of disputes emerging in apartment complexes across the city. While many residents cite culture and convenience for keeping such items outside their front doors, apartment associations frequently consider them safety hazards and violations of common area rules. These differences have led to arguments, fines, and even legal notices in several residential communities, The Times of India reported.

Many residents argue that placing shoe racks outside their homes helps maintain hygiene indoors, a practice reinforced after the Covid pandemic. "We grew up with the practice of leaving footwear outside the house to avoid bringing in dust, dirt, and germs," Atul Srivastava, a committee member at Krishvi Wisteria Apartments in Whitefield, told the publication. "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 an apartment complex on Kanakapura Road said the "unnecessary restrictions" imposed by the associations resulted in frequent conflicts. "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. It doesn't feel like we truly own our space," they said.

Rohan Vasantha Apartments in Marathahalli, appears to have found a middle path. Prabhu Patil, president of the apartment association, told the Times of India: "To meet the residents' wishes and keep the safety norms in check, we have prohibited permanent structures outside the flats. 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."