Recently, a resident of On Ting Estate complained online about having their shoes stolen. They uploaded a photo showing a self-installed shoe rack placed next to their metal gate–which was completely empty after the theft–and questioned whether the security in the estate had deteriorated significantly. However, the post was met with strong criticism from netizens, who overwhelmingly condemned the resident’s actions, accusing them of occupying public space and suggesting that the theft was self-inflicted.
In addition to shoe racks and shoes, other items often placed in public areas include bicycles, shopping carts, umbrella stands, paper-offering burners, and baby strollers. Since the pandemic, many residents have also started placing doormats outside their doors to prevent dust and dirt from entering their homes, aiming to maintain indoor air quality.
So, is it legal to place personal belongings in public hallways? The answer is no. According to building deeds and fire safety regulations, areas such as elevator lobbies, hallways, and staircases are considered public spaces and cannot be occupied for personal use. Regardless of whether the items placed affect the appearance of the property or cause hygiene issues, placing personal belongings in these areas constitutes a violation of building deeds and fire safety laws.
Building deeds often explicitly outline prohibited actions for residents, such as keeping pets, disturbing others, placing personal items in public areas, engaging in illegal activities within the unit, or hanging laundry in communal spaces. These rules ensure orderly building management and apply to both tenants and property owners, who are equally bound by the terms.
If a resident places personal belongings in public spaces such as hallways, how does the management office address the situation? When complaints are received, or if such items are discovered during routine inspections, the management office will first issue a notice to the resident, requesting them to remove the items within a specified timeframe. Should the resident fail to comply, the management office has the authority to remove the items without further notice.
It’s worth noting that some property owners purchase entire floors and connect the units to create a single combined space. However, even in such cases, areas like elevator lobbies and hallways remain public spaces and cannot be forcibly occupied or used for personal storage.
Hallways also serve as emergency escape routes. If clutter obstructs these areas, it could increase the difficulty of evacuation during a fire. As such, placing any personal belongings in hallways is a violation of fire safety regulations. Offenders may face prosecution. Upon conviction, they could be fined up to HK$200,000, and repeat offenders could face an additional HK$200,000 fine and up to one year of imprisonment.
Placing items like doormats or shoe racks in hallways not only hinders routine cleaning and maintenance—making it challenging for cleaning staff to properly clean the floors—but also poses a tripping hazard. If someone is injured as a result, the liability may not rest solely with the management office. The resident responsible for placing the items could also be held legally accountable.
