THE OTHER SIDE: HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS

While a dictatorial RWA is the last thing residents need, modern apartment block or society living also requires basic etiquette so that neighbours are not inconvenienced. Hindustan Times spoke to people across cities to draw up a checklist of dos and don’ts.

Don’t put your washing to dry in a way that it hangs over the balcony of those living in the floor below you Ensure that your leaking taps are not causing water seepage in other flats in the block. Get them repaired Restrict your aesthetic enthusiasm to your own space. Don’t block the common passage or entrance with potted plants or put up your favourite painting in the passage without consulting your neighbours on whether they would like to have it there Keep your power usage to what your meter can support. Don’t make the power connection for the entire block trip so that your neighbours suffer in the dark because you need air conditioning simultaneously in all your four bedrooms Be it a party or a satsang, keep the volume down. Don’t let your celebratory or religious fervour disturb your neighbours, especially at night Keep private things private. Don’t let your PDA (public display of affection) in the lift or other public spaces, transcend from cute to obscene Your pet is your responsibility. Walk him in the park, but don’t let him litter the roads or outside your neighours’ homes. And do train them not to bite neighbours or their visitors, please Don’t park your car, or let your visitors park their car in a manner that makes it difficult for neighbours to park their cars or drive in or out of the colony Dispose of garbage properly. Don’t let it rot in public spaces or put it out in a way that birds or dogs and cats can scatter it about