TikToker Says Neighbour Throwing Cigarette Butts In His “Extensive” Corridor Garden; Sparks Debate Over Shared HDB Spaces Instead

Corridor gardening is a common sight in many HDB estates, but one Singapore content creator’s experience has sparked debate about the use of shared residential spaces.

TikToker Jeremiah Su (@thejeremiahsu), a plant enthusiast, recently posted a video lamenting about his neighbour throwing cigarette butts in his potted plants.

In the clip, he explained that he has been gardening since the pandemic and has built what he described as a “very, very extensive garden” outside his corner HDB flat, extending along the common corridor.

He added that he believes the culprit is his upstairs neighbour, and acknowledged that such incidents are part of living in close quarters.

“We live in a shared space, in a shared world. Funny stuff like this can happen,” he said, adding that he would not dwell on the issue and would continue tending to his plants.

While some netizens sympathised with Jeremiah and called out the neighbour’s actions, the video went viral online for a different reason.

Discussions soon centred on the extent of his use of the common corridor, even sparking a debate on Reddit over whether people should be allowed to grow plants freely in shared spaces.

Netizens divided over ‘shared space’

On Reddit, many users questioned whether Jeremiah’s garden had gone beyond what is acceptable in a common area.

“He plant until other side of the floor? That’s a little too much?” one commenter wrote, while another said: “That’s public space. No longer his plant.”

Some also pointed out what they saw as irony in his statement about shared living.

“‘We live in a shared space in a shared world’, then proceeds to put his plants in other people’s spaces,” a user commented.

Others felt that while gardening is fine, it should be kept within reasonable limits.

“Be reasonable. Keep a few plants near your gate and it’s give and take. Don’t treat the corridor as your personal property,” one wrote.

There were also comments asking where the line should be drawn, especially in communal spaces like corridors and void decks, as well as concerns about safety and hygiene.

Some netizens raised practical concerns, including whether the plants could obstruct walkways, attract pests, or pose fire safety risks.

Guidelines from NParks state that corridor gardens should maintain at least 1.2 metres of clear space for emergency access, with plants kept neatly against walls and not obstructing walkways.

Jeremiah later responded to some comments on TikTok, saying that his plants do not obstruct the walkway and that his immediate neighbour has no issues with the setup.

“My neighbour and I actually maintain our corridor together. They love my plants [which are] not blocking anything,” he wrote, adding that one “can actually breakdance along our corridor”.

So, would you be okay if your neighbour used the shared space outside your unit?